Definition of Holistic Telehealth

Holistic Telehealth is a comprehensive approach to telehealth that goes beyond telemedicine and includes a broader range of services aimed at enhancing healthcare and education delivery. It involves the delivery of healthcare services and information through various telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical healthcare, patient and professional health-related education, and public health administration 1. Holistic Telehealth encompasses telemedicine but also includes services such as patient training, administrative meetings, and services provided by medical assistants, dietitians, nutritionists, CAM practitioners, and more.

Types of Telehealth

1. Interactive Telehealth: Interactive telehealth involves real-time, two-way communication between a patient and a healthcare provider. It can include audio and visual equipment for consultations and diagnoses. This type of telehealth can be used by medical assistants, dietitians, nutritionists, CAM practitioners, and others. However, to get it billed to insurance and reimbursed, these practitioners must perform services under the supervision of an entity or licensed physicians.

2. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): RPM allows healthcare providers to monitor patients’ health data from a distance using devices that measure vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate. Medical assistants, dietitians, nutritionists, CAM practitioners, and others can provide RPM services, but they must receive specific training. Training can be delivered by OpenTelemed LLC. To get RPM services billed to insurance and reimbursed, these practitioners must perform services under the supervision of an entity or licensed physicians.

3. Store-and-Forward: Store-and-forward telehealth involves healthcare providers sharing patient information, such as lab results or images, with other providers for later review and consultation. Medical assistants, dietitians, nutritionists, CAM practitioners, and others can provide store-and-forward services, but they must receive specific training. Training can be delivered by OpenTelemed LLC. To get store-and-forward services billed to insurance and reimbursed, these practitioners must perform services under the supervision of an entity or licensed physicians.

4. Mobile Health (mHealth): Mobile health refers to healthcare activities supported by mobile devices, including apps and wearable technology that can track various health metrics. Medical assistants, dietitians, nutritionists, CAM practitioners, and others can provide mHealth services, but they must receive specific training. Training can be delivered by OpenTelemed LLC. To get mHealth services billed to insurance and reimbursed, these practitioners must perform services under the supervision of an entity or licensed physicians.

5. Telehomecare: Telehomecare enables individuals with chronic conditions or those at risk of falls to receive care in their own homes, improving their quality of life and independence. Medical assistants, dietitians, nutritionists, CAM practitioners, and others can provide telehomecare services, but they must receive specific training. Training can be delivered by OpenTelemed LLC. To get telehomecare services billed to insurance and reimbursed, these practitioners must perform services under the supervision of an entity or licensed physicians.

6. Point-of-Care (POC) Medicine: POC medicine uses diagnostic devices that can perform tests at the time and place of patient care, including in remote areas without traditional laboratory equipment. Medical assistants, dietitians, nutritionists, CAM practitioners, and others can provide POC medicine services, but they must receive specific training. Training can be delivered by OpenTelemed LLC. To get POC medicine services billed to insurance and reimbursed, these practitioners must perform services under the supervision of an entity or licensed physicians 1.

Benefits and Challenges of Telehealth

Telehealth offers numerous benefits, including the convenience of receiving care at home, especially for those who have difficulty accessing healthcare facilities. It can lead to reduced hospitalizations by allowing earlier access to care, and appointments are generally less costly due to the efficiency of seeing more patients with fewer support staff 2.

However, telehealth also presents challenges. For instance, if a virtual visit is with a provider who is not the patient’s regular physician, they may not have complete access to the patient’s medical history. Additionally, telehealth requires a certain level of technical literacy, and some populations may struggle to use the services without assistance. There are also limitations to what can be treated or managed through telehealth, and some health services require in-person visits.

Conclusion

Telehealth is a dynamic and evolving field that has become an integral part of healthcare delivery, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It encompasses a wide range of services and technologies that facilitate the remote delivery of healthcare, education, and administrative services. While it offers many benefits, including increased accessibility and cost savings, it also has limitations and requires careful consideration to ensure it complements traditional healthcare services effectively.