The Ultimate Guide to Telemedicine Software
The significant rise of telemedicine peaked in April 2020, when it was used in 69% of all doctor-patient visits (1). A similar pattern is seen in Europe, where the European Parliament announced a program called EU4Health 2021-2027 to promote the sharing of e-prescriptions, digital health records, and telehealth. Although the peak telemedicine use was during the pandemic, the trends continue to grow with an annual growth rate of 20% between 2022-2027 (2). The COVID experience boosted the adoption of this solution in recent years, so it’s important to understand what it takes to create the best telemedicine software.
Telemedicine system infrastructure: the foundations (3)
It’s no need to say that understanding the architecture behind telemedicine solutions is the first step towards gaining a general picture of this topic. Telemedicine platforms are designed to ensure effective remote healthcare delivery. These platforms incorporate server applications, mobile apps, cloud infrastructure, real-time communication technologies, health monitoring devices, external services and a compliance layer.
Server applications provide a framework, operating through web browsers and apps for iOS and Android. This dual approach serves most mobile users, offering them the flexibility of accessing telemedicine services.
Cloud infrastructure, supported by major providers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, ensures scalability and security. It serves as the core for data management and storage, as it facilitates the secure handling of health data across platforms.
Real-time technologies such as WebRTC and WebSocket make live interactions possible. They allow for effective communication during consultations. They are used by health monitoring devices that sync health data to the platform, either through Bluetooth or directly to the cloud.
External services enhance the functionality of telemedicine applications, providing essential features like SMS, push notifications, and support for real-time communication. This ensures that the platforms are equipped with comprehensive tools to meet the needs of users.
The compliance layer is also crucial for maintaining privacy and adhering to healthcare regulations. This includes following standards set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S., the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, and other regional regulations. Compliance ensures that all interactions and data management are secure, confidential, and meet legal requirements. This protects patient information and maintains trust in telemedicine services. Together, these elements create a secure, user-friendly, and compliant telemedicine platform that supports reliable remote healthcare delivery.
Three types of telehealth software
When considering the development or implementation of the best telehealth software, it’s essential to align its capabilities with the provider’s goals. Depending on these goals, three types of telemedicine software can be classified, depending on the scale of the organization.
Telehealth only
It’s the simplest software for telehealth, which only includes communication between the client and the provider. Here is a short list of what is usually included:
- High-quality video and audio. Between 50.7% and 61.9% prefer video as their main way of communication with their healthcare providers. (4)
- Multiple participants in the session. Family members or other healthcare practitioners may attend the session to support and help the patient.
- Screen sharing. Navigation and help are key to a successful telehealth meeting. Some explanations need to be pointed out with a mouse. Also, some patients lack the required digital skills. Thanks to screen sharing, the providers can guide them when needed.
- End-to-end encryption ensures that only the patient and the provider can access their communication. This security measure prevents anyone else from intercepting or viewing sensitive patient data.
- File sharing and chat functionality. Providers can send links, documents, and images. This improves communication by making the instructions clearer, which results in better patient outcomes.
- Appointment scheduling is a time management tool that helps both patients and providers organize their meetings. It automatically sends reminders via SMS or email to reduce missed appointments, which can be difficult to reschedule due to the provider’s busy schedule.
- Session recording (with patient consent). Patients feel stressed that they may forget something important, which may affect their overall health poorly. Unlike in-person meetings, telemedicine allows for recording the session. It’s both beneficial for the provider and the patient. The provider doesn’t have to explain the same topic repeatedly, and the patient will follow the instructions more successfully.
Telehealth + partial EHR (electronic health records)
EHRs provide quick access to relevant information, allowing healthcare providers to store both past and present patient data. They ensure more accurate diagnoses and manage patient care effectively. The capabilities of EHRs extend those mentioned previously by including additional features such as:
- Demographics. Name, age, contact information, profession, location, etc. Demographics provide some background information, which can help to find the right diagnosis.
- Medical history. It contains diagnoses and keeps track of current and past medications as well as allergies and surgeries. EHR also decreases paperwork by eliminating duplications, saving costs, and improving safety.
- Visit summaries document the key details and progress notes from each telehealth session. These summaries provide a clear record of the patient’s progress, which is valuable for informing and guiding future care by other healthcare professionals.
Telehealth + full EHR + EMR (electronic medical records)
Full EHR and EMR allow better management of patient records. This integration ensures all patient information is up-to-date and easily accessible, it simplifies care and improves outcome:
- Detailed medical history. Full access to a patient’s complete medical history aids in informed decision-making and personalized care.
- e-Prescribing. Medical records help reduce prescription errors by managing and displaying all of a patient’s medications in one place. This visibility helps prevent the prescription of drugs that could negatively interact with each other. E-prescribing, a feature of EMRs, allows healthcare providers to see all medications a patient is taking, which helps reduce the risk of harmful drug interactions.
- Lab orders and results. Receiving lab results directly within the platform saves time, which is important for the fast reaction of the health practitioner in case of an emergency.
- Analytical tools within the EHR system help in examining patient data to identify trends, track outcomes, and inform clinical decisions.
Integrating both billing and chronic disease management functionalities into the EHR system enhances overall efficiency and patient care. The best telemedicine software surely includes integrated billing, because it automates the process, reducing the administrative burden on healthcare providers, allowing them to focus on their duties.
Similarly, chronic disease management monitors and manages chronic conditions, offering tools that can predict potential health issues and automate reminders for medication management.
The conclusion
According to Statista, the number of users of doctor consultations in 2019 was 57 million, now, more than 5 years later, this number has doubled to 116 million, which indicates the rapid growth of the telemedicine industry (5). There is a high demand for telemedicine solutions, which require a range of technologies and specialized knowledge. Therefore, it is crucial to find a partner that offers both technological expertise and a deep understanding of healthcare processes to create the best telemedicine software possible.
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References:
https://hbr.org/2022/05/the-telehealth-era-is-just-beginning (1)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10364039/ (2)
https://www.continuouscare.io/telemedicine-software (3)
https://www.towardshealthcare.com/insights/telehealth-and-telemedicine-market-sizing (4)
https://www.statista.com/topics/12106/telemedicine/#topicOverview (5)
