Telehealth trends beyond the pandemic

The use of Zoom has truly changed the world in every sense. It is now being used for direct primary care (DPC) appointments. With advanced technologies and new applications, patients are now able to use telehealth software, in the form of apps, and with a few clicks on their phone schedule an appointment, have a virtual meeting with their provider, and view their medical documents, all without leaving the comforts of their home.

While telehealth software is available to patients of all ages, studies show that it is most widely used by patients ages 25-40. The second highest usage is among those patients ages 18-24.

Elation Telehealth’s HIPAA-compliant video platform within our EHR, powered by Zoom, ensures your practice can provide virtual care without having to implement or maintain a separate solution.

While telehealth was initially designed to support the needs of NASA and their astronauts across major distances, it was popularized during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been used during the pandemic as a way to keep patients, doctors, and clinical staff members safe. However, those who are the most “at-risk” (Gen Z and Baby Boomers) are the least likely to use these services. Now that the pandemic has slowed, why is “telehealth” becoming increasingly popular and even encouraged?

To “Gen Z” and “Millennials,” the younger generations, telehealth is a form of convenience. These are also the two generations that are considered more tech-savvy, so naturally they tend to feel more comfortable using technology (i.e., their smartphones), while sitting in the security and safety of their own homes. 

Aside from the convenience factor, medical professionals are urging more patients to use telehealth, as it offers many benefits. By using telehealth, the patient can help prevent the spread of illness and infectious diseases. When patients do not need to leave their house to travel and wait in a doctor’s office with other sick people, they reduce the risk of increasing the effects of their illness and/or spreading it to anyone else.

Another benefit is to allow for a better assessment of the patient. When the healthcare professional can speak to the patient while they are in their everyday environment, the physician can make better decisions on how to best help that patient. “Using technology to deliver health care has several advantages, including cost savings, convenience, and the ability to provide care to people with mobility limitations, or those in rural areas who don’t have access to a local doctor or clinic,” according to Harvard Health.

Even given all of these benefits, it may be hard for individuals to trust that their medical information will remain secure, particularly when transferring documents online via a website or an app. Elation Health puts the patient and the provider at ease, assuring that the technology they use, including the Zoom video conferences, are all within HIPPA compliance.

Elation’s telehealth software is fully integrated into our electronic health record (EHR) solution and complies with the HIPAA Security Rule for telemedicine. Providers are able to “to host the visit on their device while simultaneously documenting in Elation with ease.” The platform offered by Elation Health for telehealth also provides everything in one place. At the click of a button, providers and patients can see:

• Medical documents
• Lab results
• Prescriptions
• Billing information.

While there still may be some need to go into the doctor’s office depending on the medical concern, a growing number of appointments can be handled using the telehealth system. It is providing patients freedom and security while also helping to protect everyone involved.