While wireless enablement creates a number of important advantages for providers and patients no matter where they live, the focus on how telemedicine benefits communities is often different in Third World countries than it is industrialized countries, like the United States.
"In places like the U.S. and continental Europe, telemedicine is largely about controlling costs, improving patient quality-of-life and, as a natural corollary, elevating treatment outcomes," explained Alex Brisbourne, president and COO of KORE Telematics, a wireless network provider focused on the M2M communications market. "In Third World countries there are other factors that shine a light on telemedicine."
By understanding the impact that telemedicine has in Third World countries, countries like the U.S. can expand the advantages of telemedicine in their own communities. Brisbourne shares with Healthcare Finance News some of the benefits telemedicine gives Third World countries.
- Efficient and proper use of 'in-field' equipment
Wireless connections promote more efficient use of "in-field" equipment such as sleep masks, glucose monitors and Holter monitors. It also ensures that the equipment is used as directed. "This in turn allows treatment facilities to obtain proper financial reimbursement without having to jump through reporting or administrative hoops; usage can be documented and credentialed in real-time," said Brisbourne. Connected equipment also has the added advantage of becoming "location aware" for better inventory control.
- Home field advantage
Telemedicine allows treatment and healing to occur within a patient's own environment. "This factor is known to be more efficacious in nearly every treatment scenario imaginable," Brisbourne said. Additionally, it can reduce the amount of traveling a patient has to do to and from physicians' offices. "Interestingly," Brisbourne continued, "the mere need to 'go to the doctor's' can become a deterrent to treatment because it is time-consuming, inconvenient, and candidly, not easily accomplished by all factions of society."
- 'Top flight' healthcare access
In developing regions, where wireless connectivity is largely ubiquitous, telemedicine brings skilled treatment, prevention capabilities and medical diagnosis to remote locations (AIDS testing, water management, physician interactions, in general). "These connections can often even provide a bridge across communication barriers such as language and cultural differences," said Brisbourne.
- A further link between developed countries and Third World countries
The most intriguing opportunity for telemedicine is in supporting the growing trend towards medical tourism. "Many First World patients are finding success going abroad for surgical procedures, whether elective or critical in nature. While counterintuitive, certain pockets of the Third World offer extremely high-quality, low-cost surgical specialties. For example, India is renowned for its heart and lung surgeons for example; Eastern Europe has a reputation for high-end orthopedics," explained Brisbourne. Telemedicine helps to make this process more of a managed experience for patients, providing them with a psychological comfort level by connecting with these doctors both pre- and post-procedure.
---
Autor(en)/Author(s): Steff Deschenes
Quelle/Source: Healthcare Finance News, 03.10.2012
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
