Last Updated | October 2, 2024
Telemedicine refers to using technology to improve the quality and reach of healthcare services in remote areas for those who cannot be physically present. Telemedicine or telehealth was considered a technology that took healthcare services to rural or remote areas lacking basic healthcare infrastructure. However, in recent times, telemedicine has seen a significant boom that taps various areas serving multiple purposes. Stay with us to read in detail about the three different types of telemedicine apps in the industry.
According to the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), all two-way communication tools and apps, including wireless tools, smartphones, and other telecommunication channels, come under the scope of telehealth.
Telemedicine app development services offer video conferencing and remote monitoring tools for virtual consultations and vital signs monitoring. Video calls allow patients and healthcare providers to connect in real-time, regardless of the physical location, bridging the gap between quality healthcare and patients who live in remote areas or have mobility issues.
What Are The Benefits of Telemedicine?
As we discussed above, all the different types of telemedicine are powered and driven by digital technologies. Their rise has opened up a whole new set of opportunities for healthcare providers and patients to reimagine the traditional ways of interacting with each other.
Listed below are some common advantages that telehealth services offer:
Improves Patient Engagement
An increasing inclination of the market trend toward ROI has forced the healthcare industry to redefine its interaction models with patients. Today, patients are looking for personalized, remotely accessible, and value-based reimbursement healthcare models that enable them to interact with clinics and doctors without having to visit physically. Thus, telemedicine cuts down on costs related to hospital visits and the time to schedule an appointment with doctors. Healthcare services are incorporating digital technologies to help patients connect with their doctors and physicians remotely, keeping them in the loop throughout their treatment journey.
Makes Healthcare Services Reachable to More Patients
Globally, there is an increasing gap between the number of patients and qualified doctors/physicians. The situation in rural and remote areas is even grimmer with few (if any) qualified healthcare practitioners available to the people. Telemedicine tends to relieve patients, increasing the accessibility of healthcare practitioners remotely.
Increases Practice Efficiency
Different types of telemedicine technology fine-tune healthcare workflow efficiency. It optimizes the workflow and processes for healthcare institutions, enabling them to increase their efficiency and the quality of services delivered to patients.
Increases Practice Revenue
From healthcare practitioners’ and institutions’ viewpoints, different types of telehealth services help them improve their service quality and increase their revenue and profitability with reduced costs. The technology enables remote patient communication, which helps them expand the number of patients they can help. Additionally, by cutting down patient interaction time on-site, telehealth gives healthcare professionals the competitive advantage to acquire, treat, and retain more patients.
Reduced Patient Costs
Doctors and hospitals are not the only winners in telemedicine; patients also reap the benefits of this technology. Telemedicine significantly reduces the cost of consultation for patients since it happens in the comfort of their homes, eliminating traveling, parking, or childcare involved in the process of physically going to a hospital. This healthcare model is not just more accessible but much more affordable for patients.
Telemedicine significantly cuts costs for rural patients from remote areas who otherwise have to travel overnight to access qualified healthcare specialists. According to the Oregon Health and Science University, the implementation of telemedicine into their workflow and process helps their patients to cut over USD 6 million in travel costs alone.
Do you know how to develop a Telemedicine app?
What are Three Different Types of Telemedicine in 2024
While there are various types of telemedicine, the three major categories include:
- Store and forward telemedicine
- Remote monitoring
- Real-time interactive services
Let’s discuss what are the three types of telemedicine in detail:
1) Store-and-Forward Telemedicine
This type is also known as “asynchronous telemedicine,” where the data transmission and consultation are not done in real time.
The mechanism of the “store and forward” types of telemedicine is similar to how e-mails work. The patients share their medical information, such as lab reports, x-rays, etc., with the healthcare providers, who subsequently provide vital information to specialist consultants in another location to be seen later. Telemedicine platforms come with built-in security features and are HIPAA-compliant to ensure the confidentiality of patients’ records.
Store and forward telemedicine basically make it easier for patients, healthcare providers, and specialists to interact and collaborate remotely by allowing easy and secure data-sharing features. The approach enables patients to access the best specialists for their treatment, even when they are located in different geographical locations. The approach is widely practiced by specialists in the fields of radiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, etc.
2) Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote monitoring is yet another useful and popular type of telemedicine that enables patients to self-monitor their health using various technological devices. These gadgets can measure and save vital signs to be used when needed. This approach is especially popular with patients dealing with chronic diseases like:
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Cardiovascular diseases
Such patients need regular monitoring of their vitals. With advanced telemedicine types like RPM, patients can record, monitor, and share important data with healthcare providers when required. Not only is remote monitoring a much more affordable way to manage chronic diseases, but it’s also much more reliable and improves the quality of healthcare services for patients.
Remote monitoring tools, such as wearable devices and medical sensors, enable patients to collect vital health data and transmit it to healthcare providers for analysis. This can help to identify and address their medical concerns early, reducing the need for in-person visits.
Together, video conferencing and remote monitoring tools form the foundation of telemedicine, providing accessible and convenient healthcare services to patients worldwide.
3) Real-Time Interactive Services
This type of telemedicine app, among the three, is self-explanatory. It enables patients and doctors to connect in real-time, one on one. Patients get direct access to doctors for consultations. Here, patients can discuss their concerns and explain their condition directly to the doctors. The approach uses specific HIPAA-compliant video conferencing software that ensures the security and confidentiality of patients’ data.
Telehealth Types and Use Cases
Other Three Types Of Telemedicine
Tele-Neuropsychology
This type of telemedicine application is specifically meant to offer neuropsychological consultation to patients online (through telemedicine software like Cliniclive or phone). The doctors are able to conduct standard evaluation tests through video-conferencing, as well as diagnose, treat, and follow up with the patients remotely.
Telenursing
Telenursing offers remote nursing services to patients and is gaining popularity among chronic patients and healthcare givers, as it’s affordable and accessible.
Telepharmacy
Telepharmacy is one of the Telemedicine types used to advise patients on pharmaceutical recommendations in cases where it’s not possible to get in touch with pharmacists. This ensures continued medication for the patients with no gaps or delays.
Do you know how much a Telemedicine startup costs?
What Are The Three Different Features of Cliniclive?
Cliniclive is one of the leading HIPAA-compliant telemedicine software developed by Folio3 Digital Health that offers patients and doctors various features and functions to improve the quality of healthcare services. Some of them include:
Highly Customizable
- Create your customized brand
- HIPPA Compliant and secure
- Reduce patients waiting time
Powerful Patient App
- HD-quality video conferencing
- Flexible appointment schedule
- Secure video conferencing with doctors and healthcare practitioners
Extensive Practice Portal
- Secure and reliable
- User-friendly and intuitive interface
- Detailed and interactive reporting
Three Benefits of HIPAA-Compliant Video Conferencing Software
Patient Data Handling
HIPPA-compliant video conferencing software is necessary for all telemedicine services and is meant to securely handle sensitive data. A HIPPA-compliant software will maintain strong measures to ensure data security; thereby, healthcare services can be sure of maintaining the sanctity of sensitive information and not falling for massive penalties due to digital theft.
Patient Trust
Cybersecurity is a common problem related to all technological tools, including the ones used in healthcare. HIPAA-compliant software comes with robust and advanced security features to protect the data at all costs.
Preemptive Data Protection
HIPAA compliance allows healthcare institutions to design and implement a detailed patient data security risk management strategy. This means that healthcare organizations are in better positions to manage today’s cybersecurity threats and be prepared for future threats.
What Equipment Do You Need for Telemedicine Practice?
Some of the vital equipment required by practitioners to deliver telemedicine services include:
- A Good Webcam
- Reliable High-Speed Internet
- A Failover Line
- Optional Optimization Tool: SD-WAN
- Digital Medical Scopes and Accessories
- Tablet(s)
- Visual Aids
Improve Your Telehealth Services with Custom Software Solutions By Folio3 Digital Health
Telemedicine apps can increase the efficiency of healthcare delivery in far-fetched areas or to those who cannot travel. Many people can benefit from these online consultation services. Connect with Folio3 Digital Health and learn how we can make tailored solutions to help you deliver quality healthcare services with a user-friendly interface and unique features that benefit professionals and patients alike.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, telemedicine includes three different types of services: Store-and-forward telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and real-time interactive services through live video conferencing with healthcare providers etc., all of which can be integrated into a comprehensive healthcare software platform.
About the Author
Ahmed Sufyan Samee
Ahmed Sufyan Samee is a seasoned digital marketer with 3+ years of experience. Specializing in SEO, he excels in optimizing online content and managing display campaigns. His expertise extends to YouTube SEO, enhancing brand visibility and engagement. Sufyan is known for his strategic approach, leveraging PPC and SEO to drive measurable results. Committed to staying ahead in the dynamic digital landscape.
