How telemedicine is impacting hospitals in Indiana

Telemedicine has now become a mainstream delivery system in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic. Also known as telehealth, telemedicine allows patients to access healthcare safely, and from anywhere with a steady internet connection. Telemedicine technology has become so ubiquitous that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released a report on telehealth’s “meteoric rise” in the wake of COVID-19. 

On a national scale, Indiana stands out as an unlikely leader in the realm of telemedicine; the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) was one of the first U.S. organizations to experiment with telehealth technology. IRHA members viewed telemedicine as a possible tool to expand healthcare to rural Hoosiers with limited healthcare access. 

The efforts of early telemedicine proponents, in Indiana, and around the world, helped propel the healthcare industry into a world where social distancing has become the norm. We’re still in the early days of telehealth utilization. Therefore, many questions remain, especially among patients who remain unfamiliar with the technology. Various data indicate that telemedicine may help individuals and hospitals save money. Therefore, it will improve healthcare access for disadvantaged populations, among other benefits. 

Here’s what you need to know about the potential applications of telemedicine, now and into the future. 

The versatility and convenience of telemedicine

As early as June, Indiana hospitals had already seen telehealth visits reach unprecedented numbers. According to WFYI Indianapolis, healthcare providers at IU Health conducted about 80,000 telemedicine visits in the first half of 2020 alone. That’s a 10,000% increase from pre-COVID numbers, which paints a striking picture of modern healthcare.

From a patient standpoint, telemedicine may help bridge gaps in care. Additionally, it can even increase the comfort level of certain individuals. For example, many patients experience doctor’s office anxiety, sometimes avoiding appointments for months or even years. Anxious patients may find it much easier to bring concerns to their healthcare provider during a remote telehealth visit. This is due to doing this from the comfort of their own home.

Telemedicine can also help streamline the healthcare management process among patients from all walks of life. This is especially true when combined with similar forms of technology. You can now use apps to manage various aspects of your health, from dental care to your heart rate and blood pressure, without the need for an office visit. It’s important to note, however, that apps aren’t a substitute for medical advice or professional care, and you should share all relevant app data with your primary care provider. 

Potential applications of telehealth technology

The remote nature of telemedicine, wherein in-person visits are greatly reduced, serves to reduce hospital capacity for elective patients in favor of those with COVID-19 or serious conditions that require immediate care. While not necessarily viable for every medical appointment, telehealth is a safe alternative to in-person behavioral health treatment and recovery support groups.

And for many patients in substance abuse recovery and behavioral health programs, telemedicine is vital to the treatment process during COVID-19. Although remote visits can’t replace the human connection, research indicates that telemedicine can be just as effective as in-person therapy. For recovering addicts and those with mental health disorders, isolation can be harmful, often leading to relapse or negative thinking. Regular remote support groups, made possible by telemedicine technology, are thus crucial. This is even more so for behavioral health patients who feel isolated from their peers in the wake of widespread distancing.

The future of healthcare in the Heartland

Despite its myriad benefits, however, telemedicine is far from perfect, and the technology may even be harming hospitals on an economic level. In Indiana, the impact has been especially pronounced. Since March, when Gov. Eric Holcomb briefly suspended all elective medical procedures to ensure ample hospital space for COVID patients, state hospitals have seen drastically reduced patient volume.

Fewer patients mean less revenue for Indiana hospitals, with rural facilities taking the biggest hit. News sources report that Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, which serves 11 southwest counties, lost about $7 million in April alone when the hospital was running at 55% capacity. Unfortunately, the problem of COVID-related revenue loss is further compounding with increased facility operation costs. Contributing factors include active pandemic health mandates and procedures.

Good Samaritan, for example, invested in personal protective equipment for its staff, in addition to increasing its capacity of rooms that promote negative airflow, thus reducing the risk of airborne particle transmission. Such safety measures, implemented to stave off COVID-19, can set hospitals and clinics back thousands of dollars, or more. Patients diagnosed with COVID are also likely to see increased virus-related costs from testing and treatment to aftercare. As the pandemic rages on, hospitals will need to learn how to adapt to reduced revenue as telemedicine continues to dominate the healthcare industry.

Key takeaways

Telemedicine is no longer has confinement to the realm of science fiction. It is now an integral aspect of modern healthcare. The technology has drastically altered the healthcare landscape, improving access for rural patients yet negatively impacting hospital revenue streams. But as long as the coronavirus remains a national public health threat, telemedicine is here to stay. And across the Hoosier State, healthcare providers and patients alike will continue to adapt to the now-essential technology.

Charlie Fletcher

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Charlie Fletcher is a freelance writer from the lovely “city of trees”- Boise, Idaho. Her love of writing pairs with her passion for social activism and search for the truth.

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