For patients in remote or rural areas, a stroke can easily cause permanent damage because treatment is too far away or their local hospital doesn’t the equipment or expertise to treat them. But new video conferencing apps for hospitals are dramatically improving the odds of a successful recovery for patients.
With the help of a video conferencing app, specialists are able to treat patients in smaller, underserved areas. Specialists can now share their expertise whenever and wherever it’s needed without smaller hospitals having the expense of keeping a specialist on their staff.
With the help of a high-def screen or tablet, doctors are able to work with the hospital’s staff to quickly assess the patient and plan treatment, from across the city or across the globe.
This is just one example of the ways that video conferencing is a game changer for hospitals. From using video conferencing to check in on housebound patients to starting diagnostics while a patient is still in the ambulance, video conferencing can mean the difference between a successful recovery or serious damage to a patient’s health.
Learn more about how your hospital can use video conferencing to start saving lives today.
Making The Move To A Digital Video Conferencing Solution
Implementing video conferencing apps is a smart way for a hospital to expand its treatment options and provide better patient care. It facilitates the flow of patient information and can help patients get the treatment they need without the time and expense of traveling hours to see a specialist.
Video conferencing can be done with a tablet or high-def screen, making it a relatively easy technology solution to add.
Make House Calls Digital
Although it may seem like the idea of a house call is an old-fashioned one, the concept is actually making a comeback. Using a video conferencing app can help doctors check in on their housebound patients. The calls allow doctors to assess the patient for any issues and the patients have “face time” with their doctors so they can address any concerns they have.
All this without the risks and cost of getting patients into doctor’s offices or hospitals for a visit.
Add Teleconferencing To Ambulances
Emergency department doctors can jumpstart their diagnostic process by using teleconferencing apps in ambulances. They can help guide patient care in the ambulance, getting treatment started that much sooner.
This faster diagnosis also helps the emergency department gather any needed supplies or equipment to start treating the patient as soon as they arrive. And in cases where a specialist is needed, they can be called and on their way in before the patient is even at the hospital.
In many cases, even a few minutes’ head start can limit serious, permanent damage to a patient’s health.
According to an article on RealTimeCommunicationsworld.com, researchers at the University of Virginia Health System put tablets with video conferencing apps into ambulances to see if they could improve the treatment of stroke victims. By working with doctors, the paramedics were able to start treatment in the ambulance, preventing disability and death.
Aid Disaster Services Personnel
Teleconferencing can also help doctors provide treatment guidance to emergency services personnel after hurricanes, tornadoes and other disasters. When a situation is too unstable to send in medical help, a video call with survivors can help them provide first aid until help can arrive.
Improve Doctor-Patient Relationships
Doctors can significantly improve their own relationships with patients by adding a video conferencing option to their patient care. By offering short, check-in calls doctors can better monitor patients without the hassle of driving into an office.
Video conferencing can actually increase the time doctors spend with patients as well as the overall number of patients they see each day or week. Providing the ability for a quick call also improves patient satisfaction and makes patients more likely to seek medical treatment instead of postponing treatment because of the hassle of traveling to an office or hospital for a visit.
Increase Access To Specialists
Video conferencing apps also have the ability to expand the reach of specialists. Instead of being limited to care that’s within driving distance, patients can now be treated by specialists around the world in the comfort of their own city. Video conferencing a specialist not only saves time, but also the money needed to travel.
Patients who are either too sick or are unable to travel for other reasons such as mental health disorders can get the care they need without leaving their homes. Video conferencing is gaining popularity as a way to diagnose and treat mental health disorders.
According to an article on the American Psychological Association website, there are almost 80 million Americans who reside in an area where there’s a shortage of mental health professionals. With less than 25 percent of the 45 million Americans with mental illness receiving treatment, video conferencing offers another option for treatment.
Doctors also benefit from this easier access to specialists, allowing them to consult with other colleagues or hold group sessions where a patient’s entire care team can join in for a conference call on their progress.
Implementing Video Conferencing At Your Hospital
Video conferencing is transforming the way hospitals deliver healthcare. With a simple call, doctors and patients can connect from the comfort of their own home. No longer limited by geography or the money and time needed to travel, patients can find the specialists they need and connect with them almost instantly.
Does your hospital use video conferencing? What types of programs do you use? How has it transformed your patient care? Tell us more in the comments below.
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