Telemedicine is changing the market structure in the United States Bashny.Net

Modern medicine has seen a lot in his lifetime technical achievements. Heart surgery, which previously held open heart the whole day and then demanded prolonged hospitalization, today performed as an outpatient arthroscopic procedures within a few hours. Tattoos can report vital signs, and contact lenses - to monitor the level of glucose. In third world countries can receive test results to AIDS within a few minutes only a few dollars.

In this case, a world-class hospital in Manhattan to get to the doctor with a sprained still have to fill out a huge number of forms, and wait for hours to pay the amount of space that is unlikely to cover your insurance.

On the same stretch, you can go to a clinic or a similar CVS, which are actively using telemedicine, to pay $ 80- $ 100 and come with a bandaged leg and a recipe less than an hour. It is clear that improving the level of service - it is a challenge to the business model rather than technology.

In search of the best alternatives h4> Clinics fast service are becoming more affordable and widespread (since their opening in shopping centers, such as Walmart, Walgreens and CVS). They offer a level of comfort, predictability and transparency of prices, which is not available in conventional hospitals. Even Whole Foods joined the business, and it has its own reasons.

The full cost of attending a first aid station really unknown. Based on the available data - the average cost of a visit to the RFP is $ 2 000. Even when visiting a network hospital with the patient may be required to pay for unexpected expenses.

Many commercial network (including Walgreens and CVS) excluded the effect of surprise for customers, indicating their prices on the Internet. And, unlike in the hospital where a single analysis can take hundreds and even thousands of dollars, most prices at Walmart does not exceed $ 40.

Fortune 500 companies and other large employers also offer local clinics, trying to reduce the cost of medical care and to offer additional benefits to employees. Just a little bit, and treatment by a physician or hospital will be the exception rather than the rule.

Opportunity or danger? H4> A lot has been written about the dangers of such a transition for hospitals and physicians. American Academy of Pediatrics even expressed the very negative opinion on such clinics. However, this view is both naive and short-sighted. The traditional medical community is not necessary to deal with this change. Moreover, they should take this trend as a way to survive in the evolving field, in which they will make a profit on the basis of their results (not action), and in which they will have to provide services using network technologies.

The battle for the best service h4> Hospitals began to realize that they can get in the game, only offering the same level of comfort and transparency. Company Novant Health has decided to capitalize on growth opportunities by partnering with Target and opened a clinic in the quick-service centers Target, where patients take nurse practitioners from Target under the supervision of doctors from Novant.

Temple University Health System - is another organization that adheres to this model, opened a clinic ReadyCare in Philadelphia. One after another, some hospitals are investing in the ecosystem, trying to stick as close as possible development trends and customer preferences (eg, UnitedHealth Group acquired Audax).

Slowly but surely, h4> Despite all the advances in the treatment and the development of medical devices, suppliers of such services have never been at the forefront of progress, but the situation is gradually changing. In the coming years, as the telemedicine will begin to fulfill its promise of continuous service, quick service clinic will be the driving force and the most important partner of the virtual health care providers.

Companies involved in telemedicine, such as WorldClinic, which provide continuous service through the virtual system and rarely see patients live, push fast service network of clinics to work in laboratories and delivery of medicines to patients. The network also provides a conveniently located offices, which regularly conducts surveys of patients who were assigned additional procedures or monitoring of chronic conditions. Thanks to this network, a virtual continuous provision of health services may become the norm of how health care is provided and implemented.

Convenience, lower cost and transparency - these are the main advantages that all clinics quick service. How do they differ? How to choose if you are an investor or a client?

Here are a few key factors to consider:

A wide range of services
A sufficient level of service
Electronic integration with networks of health care systems and electronic medical files (EHR)
Internet device
Patients are more and more, and doctors are able to help them, all less. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) predicts that by 2025 the US will lack 130,600 doctors. Emerging clinics quick service confidently compete with this trend. Companies providing health care services, are able to reduce the cost and increase the level of services, following the trend of quick-service clinics through direct investment or partnership.

Have little time to the point where doctors will work completely in virtual mode, relying on video technology, medical devices that are connected to the Internet, electronic medical records, and a network of clinics, providing effective treatment of patients most effective way of ensuring the best possible experience and patients.

Source: geektimes.ru/company/paysto/blog/246898/