With increasing focus from Medicare on reducing rehospitalizations and shorter stays, eliminating unnecessary emergency department visits (such as visits that could have been handled safely in an urgent care clinic or a primary care setting) and avoiding the need to use the emergency department in the first place is paramount. 71% percent of emergency...
“Telemedicine providers can’t catch senior citizens when they fall. But health services delivered over broadband can make it possible for seniors to live independently for longer periods of time.” Telehealth can allow seniors to stay in their homes longer through general health services, mental health services, and home health care. Broadband and Medicare reimbursement...
Over 7% of care offered at critical access hospitals (CAHs) is uncompensated, compared to 5% at urban hospitals. In fact, more than 40% of rural hospitals report an operating loss, particularly in the South. More than 80 rural hospitals have closed since 2010. Rural areas tend to have higher rates of poverty, less health insurance...
“Chattanooga, Tenn.’s investment in community broadband allows the city to bring more than just fast Internet browsing to citizens.” “One prospect’s connection was so poor the audio was always out of sync. It was a group of 15 facilities and we weren’t able to connect with any of them. I’m sure all of those...
Telehealth has grown rapidly over the past few years. 76% of health systems are expected to have implemented telehealth by the end of 2018, according to a survey held by Teladoc. However, many misconceptions have grown up around telehealth. In a February 26 webcast, Roy Schoenberg, MD, president, CEO and co-founder of American Well,...
The Kentucky State Senate passed SB 112 February 26 and was recently signed into law by Gov. Matt Bevin; this bill will allow doctors anywhere in the world to see patients in Kentucky, as long as the doctor is licensed in Kentucky. This bill was designed to encourage adoption of telehealth technologies, particularly for...
Iowa governor Kim Reynolds recently signed a bill that will require health insurance to cover telehealth services to the same extent as comparable services not offered by telehealth into law. The law takes effect January 1, 2019 and will affect any insurance policy delivered, issued or reissued after that date. Since this law (passed...
Jen Amis, Encounter Telehealth president and CEO, was recently featured in Episode Five of “Contributing Factors,” a podcast released March 1 through April 5 by HealthFurther. “Contributing Factors” deals with the topics of mental health and mental illness, with a specific focus on depression. This podcast will explore what depression feels like, treatment options,...
Encounter Telehealth is honored to be featured in MedTech Boston as one of the top four telehealth companies in the US. Read the article here: https://medtechboston.medstro.com/blog/2018/03/27/the-top-4-telehealth-companies/ Telehealth offers greater healthcare access, particularly to people who otherwise would not have access to quality healthcare; such as those who live in remote or rural areas, or who...
Lack of Access to Mental Health Care in Rural Areas One in five Americans—over 43 million—suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. With less than half of the mental healthcare providers needed in the United States, many individuals go without care. Less than a quarter of mental healthcare providers are available in rural areas. Limited availability...
