An Interview With the Father of Telemedicine & Exploring the Future of Healthcare System
For 52 years, one man has been toiling to make telemedicine a mainstream and an integral part of healthcare; in a book chapter titled “Sadly it Took a Pandemic” he speaks about the impact of pandemic on the use of telemedicine. We had the privilege of collaborating with the man himself, Jay H. Sanders, for this white paper: Digital Acceleration in Healthcare: 12 Mega-Trends Driving its Giant Leap.
Unravelling the Future of Telemedicine
Telehealth has incredible potential in areas such as behavioral health, improving the patient experience, and bettering health outcomes. Incorporation of virtual and near-virtual health solutions takes healthcare to homes, enabling patients to access timely care. Jay Sanders, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Global Telemedicine Group, Professor of Medicine (Adjunct) at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a Founding Board Member and President Emeritus of the American Telemedicine Association, spoke on the paradigm shifts, technology, regulations, medical errors and more.
We thank him for collaborating for the paper!
Excerpts from the Interview
Between Jan to July there was a 2000% rise in Telemedicine. What are your takes on the future of Telemedicine; how much of the momentum will be sustained in the coming years.
I have been dealing with Telemedicine for 52 years, and fundamentally, the things which have prevented its mass adoption are Regulations and Insurance companies not reimbursing for it. During the pandemic everyone was forced to adopt and the federal government and the insurance companies finally said YES, we are going to reimburse for it. The momentum should sustain I believe.
As you have pointed out to the issue of Regulations, what do you think will happen on this front, are we going to see a porgressive stance?
Finally everyone has seen the light wrt. to the capabilities of Telemedicine. More than 30 states have legislated parity reimbursements, i.e pay at par with regular hospital visits, such legislations are good examples of progressive adoption.
The Payoff: Even if insurance companies decide to pay at par, they will still be able to make money because many people consider the emergency wing as their regular physician. They go there when they do not actually have an emergency, and then the insurance company has to pay many times more than a regular visit. Nearly 30–40% of patients who come to the emergency department never need emergency care, so telemedicine can save a lot of money for insurance companies.
On the darker side of Telemedicine, there are chances of misdiagnosis and also there is a lack of physical diagnosis, so how to reckon see the risk involved?
There are many cheap MIoTs (Medical Internet of Things) and diagnostic devices available which can aid the consultation. Psychologists who viewed telemedicine as ineffective for them now think completely differently. Seeing patients in their homes is a much better place for consultation.
When companies like Amazon, Netflix, and online banking gave customers an alternative to shop and bank. It did not shut the malls or the banks, it added additional value.
Question: Will technology usher in innovation in the delivery of healthcare models. Are we going to see Tele-ICUs, and Hospital at Homes (HaH)?
Jay Sanders: Regardless of the technology, the most important part of telemedicine is the message. We lose more number of people each year due to misdiagnosis, and error than we have lost to COVID. The reason is not that doctors are at fault, but simply it is impossible to keep up with the latest advancements and research. Here is the urgent need for AI to assist them with the latest information, and provide an alternative diagnosis. We need to replace the single physician at bedside with collective expertise through telemedicine and AI.
Also Sensor technology should tell us what’s wrong with a person, as each has a different normal and only the sensor can tell us anomaly for each person.
On the technology front what do you see will govern the future of Healthcare?
3 Most Important Technology that Will Change Healthcare: Telemedicine enabled with AI and sensor Technology.
What is the paradigm shift that you have observed in 2020?
The shift can be understood from each stakeholder perspective:
- The Federal Government has realized that it is essential to make the system work and thus reimburse it.
- Physicians have realised that it there is no alternative to telemedicine
- Patients have realised that they need telemedicine as much as they need Amazon and Netflix.
- The remote areas now have access to specialists, who can provide critical care such as heart attack, thrombotic stroke, etc.
Access these latest and cutting-edge insights through Techment’s white paper — Digital Acceleration in Healthcare: 12 Mega-Trends Shaping its Transformation
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