HEALTH CARE
What patients and providers are realizing is that video visits don ’ t affect patient satisfaction with their primary health care providers , according to a 2019 study in the American Journal of Managed Care . Both parties are learning that telehealth is convenient , flexible and saves time .
If the momentum in telehealth continues , it could lead to a shift to what Atreja calls “ digital-first health ,” where technology is the front door in the chain of health care , which can lead to inperson care , such as physical exams , diagnostic tests or hospitalization . Atreja predicts health care will shift to a “ digital front door for everyone , and digital monitoring for most .”
Atreja sees huge potential in remote monitoring . Futuristic gizmos and gadgets are flooding the market , the most common examples being wearable tech such as Fitbit or the Apple Watch . There is more advanced equipment , like the TytoCare device that offers guided remote exams of the patient ’ s heart , lungs , throat , ears , skin and abdomen , and checks heart rate and body temperature . And there are specialized devices , like EKG monitors .
These devices are the best of preventative medicine because they are able to catch troubling patterns , such as an abnormal heart issue , sometimes even before a patient is experiencing symptoms . Some devices even connect directly to providers and trigger automatic notifications , which prompt the office to call patients to follow up . “ Sensors and their responsive apps will allow us to provide proactive care instead of reactive care , which is the mode of delivery care right now ,” says Atreja .
This shift has the potential to improve patient health outcomes by preventing the progression of chronic conditions . It would also save costs by reducing expensive hospitalizations , emergency room visits and procedures .
But who pays for these kinds of devices ? Currently , there are a few models . In one , patients buy gadgets on their own , perhaps with money from a health savings account . In another , the physician prescribes a device that
“ I think remote patient monitoring is going to be the future of medicine and how it ’ s delivered . … I never thought I ’ d see that happen in my lifetime . I thought it might take 10 years to see even half of the ( policy ) relaxations we ’ re seeing today .”
JOEL GRAY Executive director , California Medicaid health plan Anthem Blue Cross
is provided by the health care system , the insurance payer covers it , and the patient pays a copay .
“ Most plans are considering this , but few have adopted it right now ,” says Atreja . “ But a lot of our effort at UC Davis is to create innovative partnerships with health plans and peers .”
A gigantic leap forward
Joel Gray , executive director of Anthem Blue Cross ’ California Medicaid health plan , says health care is a finite resource . There are only so many doctors , hospitals and personal protective equipment , and the pandemic has demonstrated what happens when there is heavy demand and resources are strained . He believes remote monitoring of patients can help alleviate the burden through proactive care . “ I think remote patient monitoring is going to be the future of medicine and how it ’ s delivered ,” Gray says .
Anthem Blue Cross is the second largest insurer in California . Before the pandemic , Gray estimates the organization saw about 1,000 telehealth claims a month . During the pandemic , that number jumped to the hundreds of thousands , thanks to the telehealth policy waivers . “ I never thought I ’ d see that happen in my lifetime . I thought it might take 10 years to see even half of the ( policy ) relaxations we ’ re seeing today ,” says Gray .
He says it ’ s unusual to see this level of cooperation , and it ’ s an encouraging sign for the future of innovation . “ I ’ m seeing ( it ) across all the different stakeholders — government stakeholders , policymakers , health insurance associations , health-plan leadership — a willingness to try to make a lot of these changes permanent . That ’ s not always the case in health care ,” says Gray .
Gray thinks the relaxed restrictions and requirements have made a positive impact by encouraging technology adoption by providers . Prior to the pandemic , telehealth was complex with high stakes . “ It was very complicated for ( providers ) to properly bill this stuff ,” he says . “ And if you get it wrong , there ’ s penalties .”
There are behind-the-scenes benefits too . Gray believes telehealth can help reduce burnout in health care workers by providing some flexibility on the provider side . It also helps facilitate physician-to-physician e-consultations ,
52 comstocksmag . com | April 2021