Margot Morton’s Post

Should Emergency Departments Offer Virtual Consultations? The Emergency Department (ED) plays a crucial role in providing urgent medical care, yet many patients with less critical needs often endure long wait times in crowded waiting rooms. From our experience, implementing virtual consultations in the ED has proven to: - Reduce wait times for less urgent cases (Cat 4 & 5), thereby freeing up resources to prioritize more critical patients (Cat 1, 2, 3). - Enhance and improve patient experience. However, challenges such as accurate triage, technology access disparities, and the limitations of virtual physical examinations underscore the importance of a collaborative team effort for successful implementation. Moving forward, perhaps we should: - Conduct more pilot programs to test virtual consultations in select EDs, assessing their effectiveness, and identifying the best Model of Care. - Introducing technology solutions like telehealth pods in waiting rooms for patients lacking personal devices or needing a private, clean, and soundproof space for a confidential consultation. - Adopting a hybrid approach that offers a virtual consultation option alongside traditional care to create a more patient-centered experience. What are your thoughts on this approach? Would you consider utilizing a virtual consultation in the Emergency Department? #Telehealth #EmergencyMedicine #Healthcare #PatientExperience #Emergencycare #Virtualcare #Virtual #Winteriscoming Megan Dowdell #healthcareinnovation #technology #innovation

It's tech Tuesday, and a perfect day to remind you of AultmanNow! https://lnkd.in/ePY_N2sN AultmanNow is 24/7/365 Non-Emergency Telehealth Virtual Visits If you need care after hours, contact your physician’s office. If you feel your needs are urgent or your situation is an emergency, proceed to the nearest emergency room, or urgent care center, or call 911. If you are out of the area and feel you need medical care, go to the nearest urgent care, or emergency room, or call 911. You do not need a referral or prior authorization from your physician or plan if you feel your need is urgent or a medical emergency. You can also search the online provider directory for a list of available urgent care centers. #AultCare

Are you curious about how to reach more patients while streamlining your workflow? Have you thought of integrating telemedicine into your practice? Here are some key benefits: 1️⃣ Improved Patient Access: Reach patients who may have difficulty with in-person visits due to distance, mobility issues, or busy schedules. 2️⃣ Enhanced Efficiency: Streamline your practice by reducing wait times and administrative burdens. Spend more time focusing on patient care! 3️⃣ Expanded Reach: Break down geographic barriers and tap into new markets. Connect with patients beyond your local area. 4️⃣ Convenient Care: Patients love the convenience of virtual visits. Provide quality care from the comfort of their own homes. I am Victoria, a Medical Virtual Assistant. I help doctors increase productivity and save time. #Telemedicine #HealthcareInnovation #VirtualCare #MedicalTechnology

Mastering specific skills is essential for delivering effective telehealth services.  From digital literacy to telehealth etiquette, clinicians must possess the necessary competencies to ensure seamless virtual care.  By honing these skills, healthcare professionals can enhance patient satisfaction, improve clinical outcomes, and provide quality care in remote settings.  #TelehealthSkills #VirtualCare #HealthcareProfessionals

🩺🏢 New research reveals that most telehealth patients prefer a traditional physician’s office setting background for video visits. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, assessed patient preferences for visual backgrounds during video visits. As telehealth use escalated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the study authors noted there was little time to train physicians on ‘webside manner’ or determine best practices for video visits. #Telehealth #VirtualVisits #PatientCare #HealthcareInnovation #Telemedicine #HealthTech #DoctorVisit #MedicalCare #PatientExperience #DigitalHealth #HealthcareTechnology #TelehealthBenefits

How Acoustic Booths Benefit Patients in Hospitals Acoustic booths in hospitals serve as invaluable sanctuaries for patients, providing a host of benefits that enhance their overall healthcare experience. Increased Privacy: Patients can freely discuss sensitive medical matters with healthcare providers without concern for eavesdropping, fostering trust and open communication. 🤫 #PatientPrivacy #Confidentiality Calming Environment: Amidst the hustle and bustle of hospitals, acoustic booths offer tranquil spaces where patients can unwind, aiding in stress reduction and promoting better rest for recovery. 🌿 #StressRelief #HealingSpace Family Communication: These booths offer families a private setting to navigate challenging medical decisions or offer emotional support, fostering a supportive environment during trying times. 👨👩👧👦 #FamilySupport #EmotionalWellbeing Telehealth Consultations: Patients gain access to convenient and confidential virtual appointments, ensuring seamless communication with specialists from the comfort of the booth. 📞 #Telemedicine #VirtualHealthcare Join the conversation! How do you think acoustic booths can further improve patient care? Leave your thoughts below! 💬 #PatientExperience #HealthcareInnovation

Just 6 reasons you should be conducting telehealth appointments as a #doctor 1. Increase Access: Reach patients in remote or underserved areas. 2. Improve Efficiency: Reduce wait times and streamline scheduling. 3. Enhance Flexibility: Offer more convenient appointment times. 4. Maintain Continuity: Provide ongoing care for chronic conditions. 5. Reduce Costs: Lower overhead expenses associated with in-person visits. 6. Ensure Safety: Minimize exposure to contagious illnesses, especially important during pandemics. Jump over to On Call, Download in the app store and register as a physician today. #healthcare #Physician #healthsystem #telehealth #doctorswanted

Coming in 2024- my take on virtual care: "Health systems are realizing that patients frequently prefer telehealth over in-office visits for routine issues such as minor same day issues (e.g., colds, UTIs and rashes), as well as chronic disease management in stable patients. As a result, organizations will seek to expand patient access to anywhere, anytime care from telehealth providers as a means of widening their digital front doors to attract and retain more patients. Health systems partnering with a virtual care provider are finding it can be a much more cost-effective approach than hiring additional doctors and nurses at a time when hospital staffing remains a significant challenge." #VirtualCare #Telehealth #Future

Digital or virtual healthcare is all the rage. At least, that is what the vendors will have you believe. And I do believe it as well, to an extent. Who wants to sit in a doctor's office for 30 minutes, be weighed, measured, have your blood pressure checked, and be interrogated about your name, date of birth, and the breed and ages of each of your pets? But here is my concern, and I would love to hear feedback from healthcare practitioners: Are you measuring outcomes? Much of virtual care is on a "one and done basis" so how do we know if it is working or not? I love the convenience of it as much as the next person when it comes to follow-up care, colds, minor ailments, etc., but are we losing the connection to the "whole person" here? Who is checking your weight and blood pressure? Who is actually looking at how you move, your reactions, your coloring? Let's not discount the patient being distracted during the visit. According to a 2020 survey by DrFirst, many patients are distracted during telemedicine appointments. Interestingly, 73% of male respondents and 39% of female respondents reported multitasking during telehealth visits How do we balance the need for access with the need for personalized care? #physicians #virtualcare #telehealth #patientsfirst

Telemedicine apps revolutionize healthcare by providing accessibility, convenience, and continuity of care, making medical services more cost-effective and available in emergencies. . . . . #Telemedicine #Healthcare #Accessibility #Convenience #EmergencyCare #HealthcareReach #ContinuityOfCare #CostEffective #DigitalHealth #MedicalApps #HealthTech #VirtualCare #Telehealth #RemoteConsultation #ModernMedicine #HealthInnovation