Before Covid-19 and lockdowns and quarantines had ever entered our collective consciousness, a new-fangled direction in healthcare was just starting to peek its head out of the ground.

Telehealth.

As early platforms like Skype and as web cameras started to make their appearances in the early 2000s, it begged the question as to if it might be possible to book appointments for medical needs, speech therapy, counseling, and more from a provider who might not otherwise be accessible. At that time, there were plenty of questions to be answered: how would licensing work? How could you ensure privacy for a patient? And the biggest question of all, which was if receiving care this way would be effective.

Today, half a decade post-Covid and two decades past those early attempts at telehealth, the verdict is in. Telehealth works and it’s here to stay. Whether we were believers in it or not prior to the pandemic, the pandemic did usher in more users than ever before, and teleconferencing platforms became more robust, secure, and easy to use.

Altrua HealthShare has been offering telehealth features to its Members for several years, being an early adopter prior to the pandemic. The effectiveness, cost-savings to Members, and convenience have proven to be important factors, making the experience simple and practical.

💻 The Research Is In: Why Telehealth Works

Telehealth is a clear winner when it comes to dealing with certain health issues. Because of the growth of telehealth in the last five years, research groups have been able to take a closer look at the reasons why telehealth is an important part of an overall healthcare approach today.

    • ✅ Access: Telehealth means that you have access to excellent providers and care, no matter where you live and no matter what day or time of day it happens to be. While this is important in population centers, it’s also critical to those in more rural areas or regions of the country where there are few healthcare providers. A report from the National Rural Health Association noted, “This revolution in health care delivery ensures that rural populations receive the care they need when they need it without the constraints of traditional health care models.” 1
    • ✅ Management of Chronic Conditions: Diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, these are all conditions for which consistent monitoring is important. But making the time to commute to a provider’s office, sit in the waiting room, meet with a doctor, and then commute back across town can prove to be at the very least time consuming and in some cases almost impossible for patients to keep up with on a consistent basis. Enter telehealth. Telehealth is a great fit for creating convenient and consistent check-ins for those dealing with chronic illnesses. That consistent monitoring can lead to better health outcomes for patients. For example, a 2021 study showed that patients had improved blood pressure when using telehealth for their hypertension management. Their results matched and often exceeded in-person care results. 2
    • ✅ Counseling and Mental Wellness: Perhaps one of the biggest booms in telehealth is the explosive growth of telecounseling and mental wellness visits. The CDC reports that around 40% of mental health visits are now done through virtual platforms. 3 For issues like depression, anxiety, and PTSD, studies confirm that telehealth therapy is as effective as being in-office. 4

📈 What’s Next?
When we talk about telehealth, we tend to think about those virtual visits with a provider. However, technology is making other components of your health trackable to your provider without you having to be in-office.

    • Consumer Wearables: From glucose monitors to apps that can give real-time results on your cardiac health and more, items that are simple to wear and can report your results to your providers will likely continue to expand. These are becoming an important part of the telehealth experience.
    • Remote Monitoring Tools: More retailers offer quality medical devices for you to purchase, things like blood pressure cuffs and pulse oximeters, which allow you to tell your provider during a telehealth visit your status as reported on these tools. And now, several of these devices are able to connect directly to your provider, so that they can see your results as well.
    • AI: Love it or hate it, AI is here to stay and is an important tool in diagnostic procedures. 5 This can help your provider consider a number of options when it comes to providing the best advice and protocols for your particular health situation. Chatbots, which are computer-based applications that create spoken or typed interactions, are also coming more into play. While chatbots are not meant to replace a provider’s guidance, they can help you become more specific in the symptoms you are experiencing, which can make your telehealth visit with your provider more efficient and effective. 6

🩺 Telehealth is an Important Choice in Your Healthcare Stack

The American Medical Association says, “Telehealth can improve health outcomes, enhance patient engagement,”says the American Medical Association, “and reduce costs when integrated thoughtfully into care plans.” 7

When you’re considering whether to book an in-person appointment or to schedule yourself for a telehealth visit, keep the following list in mind. Telehealth visits work best for:

  • Minor illnesses (colds, flu, UTIs)
  • Prescription refills
  • Mental health therapy
  • Follow-ups for chronic conditions
  • Nutritional counseling

(If you are in an emergency situation, go to your nearest emergency room or urgent care facility. Telehealth is not designed for handling these types of medical situations.)

If you’re a Member of Altrua HealthShare on certain memberships, you have access to telehealth and telecounseling services. Check with a Member Services Representative at 1.877.993.8765 to learn more about how to use telehealth as part of your membership. If you’re not yet a Member of Altrua HealthShare, you can learn more about Altrua HealthShare at altruahealthshare.org.

The future of healthcare is here, with greater flexibility and connection through virtual tools. Make sure your approach to your healthcare needs includes this important feature. Here’s to your virtual health!

1 https://www.ruralhealth.us/blogs/2024/08/digital-health-on-main-street-revolutionizing-rural-america-with-telehealth-and-consumerization#:~:text=This%20revolution%20in%20health%20care%20delivery%20ensures%20that%20rural%20populations%20receive%20the%20care%20they%20need%20when%20they%20need%20it%20without%20the%20constraints%20of%20traditional%20health%20care%20models.
2 Ciemins, E. et al. (2021). Telemedicine and Chronic Disease Management. The Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare.
3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023). Telehealth and Behavioral Health Care. CDC.gov
4 https://resilientmindcounseling.com/does-online-therapy-work/#:~:text=A%20comprehensive%20review%20of%20over,in%20addressing%20mental%20health%20issues.
5 https://beckman.illinois.edu/about/news/article/2024/03/04/new-ai-model-draws-treasure-maps-to-diagnose-disease
6 https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2024/october/is-there-a-medical-chatbot-in-the-house-.html
7 American Medical Association (2023). Telehealth: Virtual Care, Real Benefits. AMA-assn.org