Technology is changing the landscape of medication management and delivery, and it's important that pharmacies and clinics don’t get left behind. Technology can be extremely advantageous to scaling your business while providing the best patient experience. Learn more about what telemedicine entails for pharmacies and clinics and how it can benefit both patients and service professionals.

 

What is Telemedicine?

 

Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication technology that allows patients to receive medical care in real-time wherever they are. It’s remote clinical services and patient care information management. The rise of the internet age has brought profound changes to healthcare, and through telemedicine tools and software, healthcare is increasingly becoming more accessible and cost-effective. 

 

There are three common types of telemedicine: 

 

  1. Store-and-forward: This allows patients, primary care providers, and specialists to share, collaborate, and review patient medical information like lab reports, imaging studies, videos, and other records. 
  2. Remote patient monitoring: This allows caregivers to monitor patients who use mobile medical equipment to collect data on blood pressure, heart conditions, glucose levels, etc. 
  3. Real-time interactive services: This allows health care professionals to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients — no matter the distance — through telecommunication technology (phone, video, chat, etc.). Real-time interactive services are often used in lieu of a trip to the doctor’s office or clinic.  

Telemedicine provides a more convenient way to deliver effective, efficient care. By implementing this technology into their system, medical providers can offer a faster way for patients to get help with many basic and frequent medical conditions.  

 

There have been continued advancements and innovation in healthcare technology in the last decade, however, telemedicine was still considered a novelty at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. As people began working remotely and hospitals strained under the weight of COVID-19 cases, telemedicine became a necessity. Now 88% of consumers demand widespread adoption of telemedicine due to its convenience and cost-saving benefits. Trends in healthcare suggest that large health systems, medical groups, providers, solo practitioners, independent pharmacies, and clinics will integrate telemedicine as part of their medical services offering.

 

The Benefits of Telemedicine 

 

Patients get convenient care at a lower price

Telemedicine provides several benefits for patients, mainly expanding access to health care services in a highly convenient model. There is no need to commute to a doctor’s office, which saves patients transportation time and costs. 

 

Another patient-centric advantage of telemedicine is having direct access to doctors through their pharmacy, effectively being a faster way to get questions answered and quality care. This also means patients don’t need to take time off of work to meet their appointments. Pharmacies can help their clients schedule consultations during breaks or even after work hours — and the struggle to find child or elder care is eliminated because health care can be accessed from the comfort of home.

 

Telemedicine offers a host of benefits, but above all, it is an easier and more convenient option of care. Some research suggests that people who use it spend less time in the hospital, providing cost savings. Telemedicine solutions are often less expensive than in-person visits, which reduces out-of-pocket costs. Also, health insurance is not necessarily required for these solutions, which removes one of the biggest barriers to care. 

 

The benefits of telemedicine extend beyond doctors and hospitals, the technology also benefits many other kinds of indirect health and wellness professionals in a myriad of ways. Technologies that come integrated with the software, including electronic medical records and prescription history management, allow for visibility, input, and control into every step of the patient journey. 

 

By having the full patient picture, service providers can ensure better patient experiences and outcomes, which could increase patient adherence and retention. This could also help in increasing the number of patients seen — highly organized management systems increase efficiency and create fewer patient silos and drive-through jams. All of this could lead to revenue growth, and when combined with possible insurance reimbursements and lowered overhead costs, integrating telemedicine software has several advantages for indirect health and wellness professionals.

 

Why Pharmacies and Clinics Need to Embrace Telemedicine

Technology has changed healthcare and embracing telemedicine isn’t a novelty anymore. Doctors and hospitals have had access to this technology for years now, and it has proved advantageous to scaling operations and providing the best patient experience. Now, tools like HealthCare Hubs are available to pharmacies and clinics so they can keep up with the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare. 

 

Telemedicine software is a strategic business decision for pharmacies and clinics. It can solve some of the economic challenges they may face, including filling prescriptions in real-time, being able to initiate and complete prescriptions when needed, staying informed and updated on patient medical history, and expanding services — all while remaining HIPAA compliant. HealthCareHubs allow pharmacies and clinics to initiate and manage the entire prescription process from start to finish. The platform can connect pharmacies and clinics to an additional network of independent medical providers that can help speed up prescription turnaround, serve patients better, and boost business. HealthCare Hubs are critical in ensuring that people get the care they need when they need it.