In the process, patients can become more engaged in their own care, and one-size-fits-all care services will be slowly supplanted by increasingly personalized options - allowing people to choose care on their own terms.įor an annual patient visit, digital technologies can streamline the in-person exam by getting patients’ information, collecting symptom data, and identifying potential options prior to the visit. Without expanding the primary care workforce, virtual health technologies can augment human activity, expand clinical capacity, and improve efficiency by ushering in a new health care model where machines and patients join doctors in the care delivery team. According to Accenture’s findings, uses of virtual health in these three scenarios could generate an economic value of approximately $10 billion annually across the U.S. To explore the impact of virtual health in primary care, an Accenture analysis looked at the economic value of virtual health uses in three common care scenarios: an annual patient visit, ongoing patient management, and self-care. We believe uses of virtual health hold potential to boost the capacity of primary care doctors - without adding or training more professionals - at a time when the American Association of Medical Colleges projects a shortage of as many as 40,000 primary care physicians (PCPs) in the next decade. Virtual health refers to the use of enabling technology - such as video, mobile apps, text-based messaging, sensors, and social platforms - to deliver health services in a way that is independent of time or location. A number of new technologies are helping to move elements of patient care from medical workers to machines and to patients themselves, allowing health care organizations to reduce costs by reducing labor intensity. But new uses of virtual health and digital technologies may help the industry manage these challenges. Rising health care costs, a shortage of physicians, and an aging population are making the traditional model of care increasingly unsustainable. The conventional wisdom that the best care is delivered in-person by experienced caregivers may soon be overturned. For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and. Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding along with guidelines and recommendations may have changed since the original publication date.Ĭheck the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for additional updates on COVID-19. Learn more about how Mayo Clinic has prepared to welcome new and established patients with face-to-face, phone and video visits. I think we will likely see video consults become more popular even after the pandemic," she says. "Video is a valuable way for us to care for patients and limit exposure. Ardon believes video visits will continue to grow in popularity. But remember that technology is unpredictable sometimes so there may be glitches."ĭr. "Be on time and be prepared with the list of issues you want to discuss. Treat the video visit like any other appointment – but have patience.So the better the lighting, the more the provider can see." “I can look at a patient and see for instance, if they look very sick, only kind of sick, short of breathe. You will also want to be in a place that will allow for a productive visit, which includes good lighting,” says Dr. "We conduct video visits in a patient exam room or a quiet office so that we are not distracted. "I’ve had a few patients who I’ve lost mid-visit because their battery died." Ardon says double check the battery before your appointment. Whether you use a cellphone, computer or tablet, Dr. That way, if they have any difficulty they can connect with our IT folks to troubleshoot before the actual appointment," says Dr. "We advise patients in advance about the software they may need to download. Understand how to connect with your provider.Ardon offers her top four tips to maximize a video visit with your health care provider. Tina Ardon, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician.ĭr. But just like an in-person visit, there are things you can do to have a successful visit," says Dr. "Understandably, many patients are nervous the first time they have a telehealth visit, especially if they are not comfortable with technology. While video appointments have been used for several years by physicians for post-operative and medical specialty follow-up appointments, most patients have not experienced video-based visits. Telehealth appointments – particularly video visits – are allowing providers see their patients when coming into the clinic isn't an option. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing recommendations have necessitated a change to the way health care is being delivered.
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