A Defining Moment in Healthcare

“This isn’t a matter of if this happens, but being positioned well when this happens.”

Albert Einstein defined insanity as, “Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results”. So goes it with healthcare over the past 20 years. Health Information Exchanges, Health Insurance Exchanges, Telemedicine, Telehealth… I think you see where this is all going.

As others have been debating healthcare reform, some have been making it happen over the last 7 years. Though it’s just now that the rate of acceptance is helping meet the needs. Healthcare is at a defining moment of how we will proceed to the next level. Though the embracement of the technology is ramping up, there are areas of policy that aren’t keeping pace.

There are several initiatives that are working to enhance patient care utilizing a Telehealth Network. I have listed two below:

1. Credentialing – With the success of the ANGELS and AR SAVES programs in over 25 healthcare centers in Arkansas, there has never been a more important time for centralized credentialing. Since the number of doctors who participate in these two specialized programs have been manageable to this point, it’s time to take what we have learned and apply it to the onslaught of other specialties wishing to participate. Coming on quickly will be the Trauma System and need for ED physicians and Specialists to assess and care for critical patients in all Arkansas ED facilities.
2. Reimbursement – Several states have pursued legislatively to have all billing for Telemedicine be equally paid as if the patient were actually onsite. My institution has been lucky enough so far that we haven’t had any issues with the billing  or contractual reimbursements overall with our programs. But we realize this is just the beginning and many steps will have to be taken in order to keep pace with the demand that is coming.

We have had the pleasure of working with the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) as well as the Center for Telehealth and e-Health law (CTeL) in formulating and pushing policy on both of these issues. We  are interested in hearing your story from your perspective, or any other policy areas you find challenging, or even successful! This isn’t a matter of if this happens, but being positioned well when this happens. As I stated before, individuals can continue arguing on the reform to our healthcare system, and we will continue keeping the patient the number one priority. Doing this, we are reforming healthcare while having better outcomes, which ultimately should be everyone’s goal.