As a nation, we are continuing our fight in overcoming the coronavirus pandemic. It can certainly be argued that the medical professionals in our country have never had to face such a difficult situation. On behalf of the entire Allegiant Experts team, we’d like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to everyone on the front lines. They are risking their own lives to help others directly impacted by this awful virus.
For the rest of us, self-isolation and social distancing are common practices. However, in many cases, health care workers need to practice social distancing of their own. In addition to the many patients they see in person, their expertise can still be provided over a telecommunications source. That way, they can provide assistance to individuals in remote locations.
The American Medical Association has realized the importance of telemedicine and has a released a Telehealth Implementation Playbook to communicate best practices.
What exactly is telehealth?
Telehealth or telemedicine refers to the providing of medical advice or a diagnosis of patients through telephone calls or video conferences. The new AMA Telehealth Implementation Playbook has been released in an effort to keep health care workers and patients safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The guide is comprised of various resources that support physicians as well as practices in expediting the implementation of telemedicine. That way, care can continue to be provided to those who need it most.
“The use of telemedicine and remote care services are critical to the safe management of the COVID-19 pandemic, while also ensuring uninterrupted care for 100 million Americans with chronic conditions,” the AMA declares. They go on to specify the various technologies that are used to deliver care.
What technologies are used to provide telemedicine?
According to the AMA, they include real-time, audio-video communication tools that connect physicians and patients in different locations; store-and-forward technologies that collect images and data to be transmitted and interpreted later; and remote patient-monitoring tools such as blood pressure monitors, Bluetooth-enabled digital scales and other wearable devices that can communicate biometric data for review.
In addition there are verbal/audio-only and virtual check-ins via patient, portals and messaging technologies. The AMA describes their new Playbook series as one that offers comprehensive step-by-step guides to implementing digital health solutions. It has a specific focus on telemedicine and provides insights from various members of the medical community. The Telehealth Implementation Playbook can be downloaded HERE.
The AMA’s new Playbook focuses on helping Americans through the pandemic.
The offering of real-time, audio-visual visits between a clinician and patient is an integral part of securing the health of all Americans during the COVID-19 crisis. The Playbook offers a quick guide that includes telehealth implementation tips and the latest updates on telemedicine expansion amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Through our recent interactive virtual discussion on the AMA Physician Innovation Network, physicians had direct access to experts gathered to answer questions, share best practices, and help arm the front lines with knowledge to act quickly and effectively in providing virtual care and preventing the spread of COVID-19,” says the AMA.
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