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12 Mar Evaluation And Scaling Of Telehealth Infrastructure

Posted at 08:54h in Process Improvement, Telehealth by

Your healthcare organization has successfully added a new telehealth system. Congratulations! Now what? How do you determine the success of the implementation?

How do you scale knowing that $106 billion of current U.S. healthcare spend could be virtualized by 2023?<1>

Lori Intravichit, CEO of Sunlit Cove Healthcare said:

In order to scale your telehealth system, you have to evaluate how it is performing. The data ensures that your healthcare organization will grow smart, not fast.

To determine success, you have to go back and revisit the initial goals of your telehealth implementation.

Here are some of the critical metrics for success:

  • Number of patients seen via telehealth
  • Number of appointments as a result of virtual visits
  • Reduction in no-show rates
  • Patient and staff satisfaction
  • Improved utilization of clinic and resources
  • Percent of payment received from insurance companies
  • Percent of payments received as self-pay patients

It will take time to see the data to evaluate your results. In the meantime, you can look at immediate measures like patient engagement, staff and patient satisfaction, utilization rates, and reimbursements received. If your telehealth system has not hit the goals you have set up initially, you have to look to see if the issue is the technology, patient engagement, or implementation.

If your telehealth solution is working well within your healthcare organization, it is time to scale! If it is working, why scale now? There are couple reasons like: you do not want to lose momentum, you can take what you have learned and improve organizational performance, look for other patient populations and conditions to treat, ensure continuity and access of care. Remember that scaling should be considered upfront, with populations, conditions, and specialties in mind. Most of them can benefit from telehealth.

Conclusion:
Prior to the pandemic, only 14% of Americans had tried telehealth; since the coronavirus outbreak, that number has increased by 57%, and for those with a chronic illness, the number has increased by 77%. <1> As telehealth's expansion continues, we need to ensure that new systems maintain or improve communication between providers and patients, enhance connections, and improve healthcare quality and effectiveness. Sunlit Cove Healthcare Consultants can help you identify challenges and opportunities and realistically evaluate your virtual care processes. Contact us or give us a call at (727) 278-3009 to get started.

<1> Doximity’s 2020 State of Telemedicine Report

Sunlit Cove Healthcare Consultants

We provide management and consulting services to help healthcare businesses run efficiently. Navigating the dynamic and complex revenue cycle management is a challenge for many health plans, health care vendors, and providers. Our consulting services are available to assist with your day-to-day operations and provide expertise in growth and change management. We manage all aspects of your enterprise from the development of the revenue cycle management process to the completion of your business cycle.

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