Virginia: A Leading State in Remote Monitoring Telemedicine

When it comes to telemedicine, Virginia has been setting the bar high in the US. Officials in Virginia realized that the ailing healthcare system needed a new design to meet the demands of growing medical care. The choice to support telehealth turned out to be a sensible one since Virginia, with its forward-thinking telemedicine policy, appears to have an effective strategy for addressing the health crisis in the country. Other states can learn a lot from remote monitoring telemedicine in  Virginia. 

What is telemedicine?

It is a tool designed to connect the patients and doctors online without being in the same room. Telemedicine is a technology that helps you communicate with your healthcare professional through video calls, phone calls, text messages, or emails. Compared to previous healthcare systems, modern healthcare is better and easily accessible remotely. A lot of mobile applications have been built which are helping patients as well as doctors. The patients are not only recovering but also improving their life quality. 

How does it work?

Telemedicine can be used remotely from any location with a stable internet connection and a reliable phone or computer. It helps when you are far from your doctor and cannot reach the hospital or clinic. It has also gained popularity after the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic as people started consulting online through applications or calls. After the consultation is completed the patients receive their e-prescriptions. A ‘patient portal’ is designed and is secured by username and password which helps the patient connect with the doctor or nurse online. It helps in setting up appointments, connecting with doctors, and refilling prescriptions. The doctors can also share lab reports online with the interpretations. This helps in cutting short the time and provides fast access to records. The telemedicine applications also help during urgent care and emergency situations when you are not able to reach the hospital on time and need immediate help.

While accessing virtual urgent care, you get clarity on whether you need to visit a doctor in person or not. It is really helpful for follow-ups once you have met the doctor in person. 

Remote patient monitoring is one of the most common types of telemedicine which is adopted all over the world. It helps the doctor in tracking the vitals of a patient and other details from a distance. It is widely used in monitoring patients who have chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular or asthma. It provides greater satisfaction to the patients because of frequent monitoring. RPM helps in maintaining close communication between the patient and the physician.

RPM telehealth is widely adapted in the state of Virginia. RPM telehealth includes a live interaction using audio and video communication between patient and health professional or between two health professionals. This offers a virtual alternative to visiting the doctor in person. 

Virginia allows telehealth professionals to write prescriptions for medicines. All state and federal laws which are relevant to conventional practice also apply to prescriptions filled online. Each prescription's indication, safety, and appropriateness must be taken into account by the doctor. Two proposals are being pushed by telehealth advocates to increase the state of Virginia's coverage for remote patient monitoring. Bills 1970 and 1221 have not yet been passed. For many chronic patients in Virginia, these revisions would greatly increase access to care. Since the COVID-19 outbreak has quickened many telehealth law-related processes nationwide, many lawmakers are looking for methods to quickly expand telemedicine coverage. As many states struggle to provide care for all patients who seek it, the movement to permit interstate telemedicine services gathered pace. 

Virginia rejected the proposal to suspend the rules preventing practitioners from other jurisdictions from using telemedicine unless they held a current medical license issued by Virginia. According to Virginia health experts, liability issues are too significant to ignore, hence the state will not participate in this initiative. 

In the practice of telemedicine, technology is essential. The practitioner can make use of all telehealth's advantages by using the appropriate platform. Only if the application is dependable and efficient will it be possible to better allocate resources, accept more patients, and reduce downtime. SISGAIN is a company that designs reliable telemedicine applications and provides hassle-free services. It understands your needs and provides competitive pricing plans. 

Telemedicine has resulted in a very useful platform for both, the patients as well as the health professionals. With the technological advances coming up every day, telemedicine holds an enormous growth in the future to help the nation.