Rethinking Allied Health Care With Telehealth

  • By Renato Parletta
  • March 20, 2020
Rethinking Allied Health Care With Telehealth

While telehealth is not a new concept, it has not yet been utilized globally to its full potential. The Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic may change that in the coming days, weeks, and months though, forcing allied health professionals to rethink how they fulfil some of their essential healthcare services.

Not every aspect of every allied health business can go online, but there may be ways for it to complement and supplement your services, even beyond making adjustments during the global health crisis.

Applications and Benefits of Providing Telehealth Services

Telehealth supports the electronic exchange of health information, so it’s used in a variety of contexts to provide a number of benefits.

It can facilitate service delivery, act as a supervision and support tool, as well as provide professional development. Allied health professionals use it to:

  • observe healthcare programs and suggest modifications
  • support client progress between visits
  • perform online patient monitoring
  • consult with other medical centres to obtain second opinions
  • deliver community education
  • provide training for continued professional development

In terms of benefits, telehealth eliminates distance barriers. It allows allied health professionals who can work hands-off, to treat patients outside of their immediate geographical location, thereby extending their potential service reach.

Furthermore, providers can retain a larger patient base over time. Even if either the practitioner or patient changes location, it’s possible to maintain the treatment relationship online using technology.

Allied Health Telehealth Case Management

Perhaps the major advantage gained from online interactions is the data trail that follows. Data enables informed decision making, which in turn can lead to better service provision.

For example, in the wake of assessing a patient who’d been in an accident, you would update forms relating to the case in your personal injury claims software. Any person with permissions and an internet connection can access the file, and work on it collaboratively. Information is secure, readily updated, and can be accessed by those involved in the treatment process.

Patients benefit too. Those in remote areas where specialists are scarce and specific services limited or absent suddenly have access to better healthcare.

Infrastructure Required For Service Delivery

To provide telehealth services, it’s necessary to have the infrastructure to support it.

If you’re interested in offering telemedicine consultations, an online conferencing platform will connect you to your patients. Note that there legal and ethical considerations for consultations, so check in with your regulatory board to see what these are.

Furthermore, some states and health insurers will cover patients’ consultation costs, while others won’t. You will need to assess this case by case.

For extended telehealth services, you will need the appropriate technology required for each service. Depending on what you offer, this may be health tracking tools such as wearables and apps, monitoring centre links, network program setup, or a video conferencing platform.

Telehealth and Telemedicine

Final Thoughts

Prior to the pandemic, the estimated CAGR of the telehealth industry was 23.4%. Prompting this is the widespread acceptance of technology along with the collaborative efforts of health care providers.

Despite global uncertainties, telehealth has demonstrated it can improve service provision, especially in rural areas. While it is not expected to replace traditional practices, it can assist with more routine work. In turn, this can free up allied health professionals, giving you time to provide higher quality service where needed.

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Quiz Test

Response: YES - Assess your organisation's specific needs. Before considering factors like cost and vendor reputation, it is essential to evaluate your organisation's unique requirements and challenges. Understanding your needs will guide you in making an informed decision and ensure that your software platform choice aligns effectively with your organisation's needs, which in turn can save time and money.

Response: The correct answer is a) Assess your organisation's specific needs. Before considering factors like cost and vendor reputation, it is essential to evaluate your organisation's unique requirements and challenges. Understanding your needs will guide you in making an informed decision and ensure that your software platform choice aligns effectively with your organisation's needs, which in turn can save time and money.

Response: The correct answer is a) Assess your organisation's specific needs. Before considering factors like cost and vendor reputation, it is essential to evaluate your organisation's unique requirements and challenges. Understanding your needs will guide you in making an informed decision and ensure that your software platform choice aligns effectively with your organisation's needs, which in turn can save time and money.

Response: YES - It protects your clients' sensitive information and your business. Security and compliance measures are crucial for Allied health organisations as they ensure the protection of sensitive client information and maintain the integrity of your business. By selecting a software platform that holds certifications such as ISO, GDPR, HIPAA, and PIPEDA, you can safeguard data privacy and maintain regulatory compliance.

Response: The correct answer is b) It protects your clients' sensitive information and your business. Security and compliance measures are crucial for Allied health organisations as they ensure the protection of sensitive client information and maintain the integrity of your business. By selecting a software platform that holds certifications such as ISO, GDPR, HIPAA, and PIPEDA, you can safeguard data privacy and maintain regulatory compliance.

Response: The correct answer is b) It protects your clients' sensitive information and your business. Security and compliance measures are crucial for Allied health organisations as they ensure the protection of sensitive client information and maintain the integrity of your business. By selecting a software platform that holds certifications such as ISO, GDPR, HIPAA, and PIPEDA, you can safeguard data privacy and maintain regulatory compliance.

Response: YES - All of the above. A software platform is essential for regulatory compliance in Allied health organisations. It automates documentation, reduces errors, and offers secure storage for patient data. With access controls and privacy measures, it ensures data protection. Additionally, the platform generates comprehensive reports for audits, simplifying compliance. By providing these capabilities, the software platform helps Allied health organisations maintain regulatory compliance, mitigate risks, and avoid penalties.

Response: The correct answer is d) All of the above. A software platform is essential for regulatory compliance in Allied health organisations. It automates documentation, reduces errors, and offers secure storage for patient data. With access controls and privacy measures, it ensures data protection. Additionally, the platform generates comprehensive reports for audits, simplifying compliance. By providing these capabilities, the software platform helps Allied health organisations maintain regulatory compliance, mitigate risks, and avoid penalties.

Response: The correct answer is d) All of the above. A software platform is essential for regulatory compliance in Allied health organisations. It automates documentation, reduces errors, and offers secure storage for patient data. With access controls and privacy measures, it ensures data protection. Additionally, the platform generates comprehensive reports for audits, simplifying compliance. By providing these capabilities, the software platform helps Allied health organisations maintain regulatory compliance, mitigate risks, and avoid penalties.

Response: The correct answer is d) All of the above. A software platform is essential for regulatory compliance in Allied health organisations. It automates documentation, reduces errors, and offers secure storage for patient data. With access controls and privacy measures, it ensures data protection. Additionally, the platform generates comprehensive reports for audits, simplifying compliance. By providing these capabilities, the software platform helps Allied health organisations maintain regulatory compliance, mitigate risks, and avoid penalties.

Response: YES - The software's ability to handle increasing workload or user demand. Scalability refers to the software's capability to handle growth without compromising performance. It is important to assess whether the software can efficiently handle an increasing workload or user demand, ensuring smooth operations as your organisation grows. Consider features like automation, robust reporting, and performance optimisation techniques to support scalability.

Response: The correct answer is d) The software's ability to handle increasing workload or user demand. Scalability refers to the software's capability to handle growth without compromising performance. It is important to assess whether the software can efficiently handle an increasing workload or user demand, ensuring smooth operations as your organisation grows. Consider features like automation, robust reporting, and performance optimisation techniques to support scalability.

Response: The correct answer is d) The software's ability to handle increasing workload or user demand. Scalability refers to the software's capability to handle growth without compromising performance. It is important to assess whether the software can efficiently handle an increasing workload or user demand, ensuring smooth operations as your organisation grows. Consider features like automation, robust reporting, and performance optimisation techniques to support scalability.

Response: The correct answer is d) The software's ability to handle increasing workload or user demand. Scalability refers to the software's capability to handle growth without compromising performance. It is important to assess whether the software can efficiently handle an increasing workload or user demand, ensuring smooth operations as your organisation grows. Consider features like automation, robust reporting, and performance optimisation techniques to support scalability.

Response: True. Integration capabilities are indeed important when selecting a software platform. In today's world, software platforms need to seamlessly integrate with other systems and tools used by an organisation. This allows for efficient data sharing, process automation, and improved workflow across different applications. By choosing a software platform with strong integration capabilities, you can enhance productivity, streamline operations, and ensure that your software solution can effectively communicate and work in tandem with other critical tools in your tech stack.

Response: True. Integration capabilities are indeed important when selecting a software platform. In today's world, software platforms need to seamlessly integrate with other systems and tools used by an organisation. This allows for efficient data sharing, process automation, and improved workflow across different applications. By choosing a software platform with strong integration capabilities, you can enhance productivity, streamline operations, and ensure that your software solution can effectively communicate and work in tandem with other critical tools in your tech stack.

Response: YES - Data entry and documentation. A great software platform saves time by automating these tasks. It streamlines data entry, automates documentation management, and eliminates manual processes prone to errors. By leveraging a software platform with features like automatic form population and documentation automation, organisations can reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, enhance accuracy, and improve efficiency.

Response: The correct answer is c) Data entry and documentation. A great software platform saves time by automating these tasks. It streamlines data entry, automates documentation management, and eliminates manual processes prone to errors. By leveraging a software platform with features like automatic form population and documentation automation, organisations can reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, enhance accuracy, and improve efficiency.

Response: The correct answer is c) Data entry and documentation. A great software platform saves time by automating these tasks. It streamlines data entry, automates documentation management, and eliminates manual processes prone to errors. By leveraging a software platform with features like automatic form population and documentation automation, organisations can reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, enhance accuracy, and improve efficiency.

Response: YES - The role of integration in improving efficiency with a software platform is b) It reduces data duplication and improves workflow. Integration enables seamless communication between systems, eliminating manual data entry and ensuring consistency. Streamlined data flow enhances workflow efficiency, reduces errors, and enables real-time access to up-to-date information. Integration optimizes processes, increases productivity, and improves internal operational efficiency and data management.

Response: The role of integration in improving efficiency with a software platform is b) It reduces data duplication and improves workflow. Integration enables seamless communication between systems, eliminating manual data entry and ensuring consistency. Streamlined data flow enhances workflow efficiency, reduces errors, and enables real-time access to up-to-date information. Integration optimizes processes, increases productivity, and improves internal operational efficiency and data management.

Response: The role of integration in improving efficiency with a software platform is b) It reduces data duplication and improves workflow. Integration enables seamless communication between systems, eliminating manual data entry and ensuring consistency. Streamlined data flow enhances workflow efficiency, reduces errors, and enables real-time access to up-to-date information. Integration optimizes processes, increases productivity, and improves internal operational efficiency and data management.

Response: YES - Workflow management and coordination. A software platform addresses common weaknesses in managing workflows and coordinating tasks. With features like task assignment, automated notifications, and real-time collaboration tools, it streamlines workflow, improves coordination, and reduces errors. While patient communication, reporting, analytics, invoicing, and data entry are important, the most common weaknesses revolve around workflow management.

Response: The correct answer is c) Workflow management and coordination. A software platform addresses common weaknesses in managing workflows and coordinating tasks. With features like task assignment, automated notifications, and real-time collaboration tools, it streamlines workflow, improves coordination, and reduces errors. While patient communication, reporting, analytics, invoicing, and data entry are important, the most common weaknesses revolve around workflow management.

Response: The correct answer is c) Workflow management and coordination. A software platform addresses common weaknesses in managing workflows and coordinating tasks. With features like task assignment, automated notifications, and real-time collaboration tools, it streamlines workflow, improves coordination, and reduces errors. While patient communication, reporting, analytics, invoicing, and data entry are important, the most common weaknesses revolve around workflow management.

Response: The correct answer is c) Workflow management and coordination. A software platform addresses common weaknesses in managing workflows and coordinating tasks. With features like task assignment, automated notifications, and real-time collaboration tools, it streamlines workflow, improves coordination, and reduces errors. While patient communication, reporting, analytics, invoicing, and data entry are important, the most common weaknesses revolve around workflow management.

Response: YES - All options (a, b, and c) are important for improved patient care and outcomes. A robust software platform streamlines administrative tasks, automates processes, and eliminates manual data entry, enabling healthcare professionals to dedicate more time to direct patient care. It promotes coordination and communication among providers, facilitating collaboration and information sharing. The platform also enhances access to patient information, empowering healthcare professionals with up-to-date data for informed decision-making and personalized care.

Response: All options (a, b, and c) are important for improved patient care and outcomes. A robust software platform streamlines administrative tasks, automates processes, and eliminates manual data entry, enabling healthcare professionals to dedicate more time to direct patient care. It promotes coordination and communication among providers, facilitating collaboration and information sharing. The platform also enhances access to patient information, empowering healthcare professionals with up-to-date data for informed decision-making and personalized care.

Response: All options (a, b, and c) are important for improved patient care and outcomes. A robust software platform streamlines administrative tasks, automates processes, and eliminates manual data entry, enabling healthcare professionals to dedicate more time to direct patient care. It promotes coordination and communication among providers, facilitating collaboration and information sharing. The platform also enhances access to patient information, empowering healthcare professionals with up-to-date data for informed decision-making and personalized care.

Response: All options (a, b, and c) are important for improved patient care and outcomes. A robust software platform streamlines administrative tasks, automates processes, and eliminates manual data entry, enabling healthcare professionals to dedicate more time to direct patient care. It promotes coordination and communication among providers, facilitating collaboration and information sharing. The platform also enhances access to patient information, empowering healthcare professionals with up-to-date data for informed decision-making and personalized care.

Response: YES - All of the above. A software platform ensures regulatory compliance in Allied health organisations by automating documentation, record-keeping, and generating comprehensive reports. It reduces errors and manual paperwork, provides secure storage for sensitive data, and facilitates adherence to privacy regulations. With these capabilities, the platform helps organisations maintain compliance, mitigate risks, and avoid penalties or legal issues.

Response: The correct answer is d) All of the above. A software platform ensures regulatory compliance in Allied health organisations by automating documentation, record-keeping, and generating comprehensive reports. It reduces errors and manual paperwork, provides secure storage for sensitive data, and facilitates adherence to privacy regulations. With these capabilities, the platform helps organisations maintain compliance, mitigate risks, and avoid penalties or legal issues.

Response: The correct answer is d) All of the above. A software platform ensures regulatory compliance in Allied health organisations by automating documentation, record-keeping, and generating comprehensive reports. It reduces errors and manual paperwork, provides secure storage for sensitive data, and facilitates adherence to privacy regulations. With these capabilities, the platform helps organisations maintain compliance, mitigate risks, and avoid penalties or legal issues.

Response: The correct answer is d) All of the above. A software platform ensures regulatory compliance in Allied health organisations by automating documentation, record-keeping, and generating comprehensive reports. It reduces errors and manual paperwork, provides secure storage for sensitive data, and facilitates adherence to privacy regulations. With these capabilities, the platform helps organisations maintain compliance, mitigate risks, and avoid penalties or legal issues.

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