Benefits of Telemedicine

Health facilities face many challenges

Health facilities face many challenges which include struggle, economic downturn and an augment of uninsured individuals. To combat the amplifying issues and improving the quality of care delivery, implementing telemedicine will be necessary. Telemedicine refers to the utilization of telecommunication together with information technology in sharing remedial data although in distinct locations to progress the medical healthcare (Emery, 2015). The three major purposes of the project are to improve cost savings, augment access to the market and access to care. Other objectives comprise of privacy assurance, reducing time wasting, training caregivers how to use current technology and creating an environment where the patient-doctor relationship is frequently enabled. Furthermore, the project aims at utilizing internet management programs, Smartphone apps and video conferencing to link patients with health experts which will promote care quality, access and privacy. The services to be offered include specialist primary and referral care, remote patient supervision, medical and consumer health information as well as wellbeing education.

Target Population

The major target of the program includes people living in remote areas, busy people who lack time to visit health facilities, patients with chronic diseases as well as persons requiring immediate medical attention. Remote monitoring is a form of telemedicine use in management and treatment of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma and heart diseases (Eren & Webster, 2016). Therefore, people with chronic diseases living far away from the health center will not be required to visit clinics every time since the services will be delivered through telecommunication. Moreover, people in remote regions and homebound will access care while in their original sites without unnecessary movement.

Benefits

The program has various benefits comprising improved wellness quality, patient demand, privacy assurance, patent demand, less time wasting and access to care. Further, telemedicine offer on-demand and simple care without cost and time wasted in transport. Video conferencing, online management programs, Smartphone apps and links several individuals with wellbeing experts than normal care (Stone, 2017). Telemedicine gives patient-centered approaches since individuals have the capability to address wellness issues quickly with real-time urgency as well as learning about treatment options within minutes. The project does not enhance access to the patient only but also permits health centers and doctors to expand their reach beyond hospitals. As a result of shortages of health practitioners, telemedicine has the ability to increase services to millions of new clients. Moreover, telemedicine reduces needless and non-urgent emergency room visits together with transportation expenses for routine checkups. The visual visits and engagement remain an easier manner of identifying and reporting early warning signs, clarification and establishment of follow-up programs (Eren & Webster, 2016).

Budget Justification

Both financial and human resources will be needed for implementing telemedicine program. Experts required for the project to work include nurses, doctors, and information technology experts together with other health workers such as counselors, psychologists, and dieticians. Approximately 5 million dollars will be needed to boost the project. The money will be utilized for purchasing necessary materials and equipment, internet installation, paying new IT professionals, carry out training, hiring and paying 24-hours staff and marketing. Furthermore, capital will be required for creating mobile apps, website and renovating offices including buying furniture, telephones, machines and new computers that will support telecommunication.

Evaluation

The assessment plan includes evaluation of the outcomes of interest which are the reduction of cost, enhanced care quality and access to health services. The main measures include the number of people served by the service, relapse cases, patient and provider comfort level with specific devices, application, and technology, delivery of care in remote parts as well as profit earned compared with that obtained from use care delivery. Furthermore, the victory of the programs will be illustrated by the approbation of individuals using the service and amplified figure of people willing or wanting to use it (Emery, 2015). The reduction of patient congestion and unnecessary admissions will be the indicator of telemedicine success. Also, improved management and treatment of chronic ailments such as hypertension and diabetes without or minimal clinic visits will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the project. The progress of the programs will be assessed six months after implementation after which the success evaluation will be conducted annually.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The first strength of telemedicine is that the world is interconnected with internet hence people can receive care services from distant locations. Moreover, the services can be delivered by different means including the use of phones, mobile apps, websites and video conferencing. Also, the program conforms to the HIPAA regulation that aims at preventing private medical documents from disclosure (Emery, 2015). However, the project is dependent on electrical flow thus stormy weather and other annoyance that can disrupt power supply would interfere with internet hence complicating consultations vi online. Furthermore, virtual interaction has an inadequate bodily assessment which may lead to incorrect prescriptions and diagnosis hence causing other issues and extra costs.

References

Emery, S. (2015). Telemedicine in hospitals: issues in implementation. New York: Routledge.

Eren, H., & Webster, J. G. (2016). Telemedicine and electronic medicine. Boca Raton: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis.

Stone, C. S. (2017). Benchmarking Telemedicine. Amsterdam: IOS Press, Incorporated.