Better Access to Health Care; Thank a Virus

MIAMI (PRWEB) March 31, 2020

Virtual doctor office visits? eCare? Advanced communications technology is revolutionizing the way health services are delivered – and “we can thank a virus for helping make that happen,” says orthopedic surgeon Alejandro Badia MD, author of the upcoming book, “Healthcare from the Trenches,” an insider account of the complex barriers of US Healthcare from the providers and patients’ perspective. He is referring to the significant uptick in patients’ use of mobile health apps, remote monitoring and video consultations via iPad and computer to “meet” with physicians and nurses and receive care from the comfort and safety of their homes during the current coronavirus pandemic.

In fact, Dr. Badia predicts the virus COVID-19 is likely to impact the future direction of the entire health care industry, encouraging more Americans to utilize telemedicine applications for non-emergent health issues, prompting more physicians to adopt the technology for their practices and revising insurance companies’ reimbursement policies for care given by app and video. Badia emphasizes that there are many benefits to Telehealth, but at the moment, with COVID-19, the main benefit is that it keeps healthy patients with an orthopedic problem out of the ER and at the same time it respects social distancing protocols.

Experts agree. Early in March (2020), officials of Teladoc Health, a global leader in virtual care, reported that the COVID-19 outbreak had caused a surge in telehealth usage, with the company supporting approximately 100,000 virtual medical visits in the United States during just a single week. American Telemedicine Association leaders suggest that patients who experience the convenience of telehealth communications for the first time may continue relying on the technology when the pandemic is over.

All of this represents a significant turnaround from mid-2019 when a consumer survey by J.D. Power Company indicated that fewer than 10 percent of Americans were using telehealth services; 75 percent of respondents reported either having no access to such technology or being unaware of its availability.

Even some hospitals, crowded with coronavirus-infected individuals, have been increasingly turning to telemedicine and remote devices to perform physical examinations of patients who are at home. The intent is to relieve pressure on emergency rooms and outpatient clinics, while keeping patients safe from contact with other sick persons.

The viral outbreak has resulted in a relaxation of Medicare rules involving reimbursement for virtual doctor visits and caused state governments to call on private, third-party insurers to revise coverage policies related to telehealth.

Dr. Badia, a specialist in treating musculoskeletal disorders of the hand, wrist and upper limb, is an early adopter of telemedicine. He introduced it into his practice – the Miami-based Badia Hand to Shoulder Center and OrthoNOW® — about four years ago. Today he regularly schedules patient “e-visits”via smartphone, iPad and computer, utilizing a software platform that keeps patient information secure, while facilitating two-way patient-doctor communications in real-time using video conferencing. OrthoNOW ultilizes OrthoLIVE for its e-visits.

“For patients who develop non-urgent orthopedic problems or sustain relatively minor injuries, such as rotator cuff tears, tennis elbow or carpal tunnel syndrome, we are scheduling video visits by computer or mobile phone. Doing so helps keep our patients at home and safe from the virus, but still allows us to examine their injuries or condition remotely, check the range of motion of their joints and limbs and discuss the best treatment options,” Dr. Badia says.

Even before COVID-19, telemedicine technology was demonstrating its value, Dr. Badia states.
“Patients who lack easy transportation to our offices or who experience non-emergent injuries that may make it painful or awkward for them to travel have been able to interact remotely with physicians in our practice through telehealth. The technology also has given access to our services to patients who reside outside the Miami area, including patients from other countries.”

Literally hundreds of evaluative telemedicine studies underscore Dr. Badia’s contention. Scientists have found that, besides offering patients convenience – and safety, eCare lowers hospital admissions, enhances patient compliance, encourages healthy lifestyles, reduces the number of cancelled appointments and cuts overall health care costs – all reasons why more and more health insurance companies are offering coverage for virtual provider visits.

Telehealth can be especially beneficial to orthopedic patients, Dr. Badia says. The ready access and quick connection to orthopedic specialists through eVisits and mobile apps mean fewer patients with non-urgent musculoskeletal problems will seek care in hospital emergency rooms where waits are long, care costly and diagnoses sometimes missed because emergency and general physicians are not trained in orthopedics.

“Quicker access to health services, greater convenience, lower costs, better management of health problems, improved health outcomes — what’s not to like? That’s telehealth. Thank a virus,” Dr. Badia says.

Alejandro Badia, MD, FACS, internationally renowned hand and upper-limb surgeon and founder of Badia Hand to Shoulder Center and OrthoNOW®, a network of walk-in orthopedic care clinics. He is a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Association for Hand Surgery and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Dr. Badia specializes in treating trauma, sports injury, joint reconstruction, nerve injuries and arthroscopic surgeries. He’s the author of the upcoming book, “Healthcare from the Trenches,” an insider account of the complex barriers of US Healthcare from the providers and patients’ perspective.
http://www.OrthoNOWlive.com and http://www.drbadia.com.