There are many advantages to remote, virtual healthcare, yet only in the last twelve months has the shift to online, digital care really taken off. It was always assumed that the most obvious beneficiaries of remote care would be those that live remotely or have mobility issues, enabling them easy and convenient access to services. For the rest of the population, it was something to think about in the future. Digital was definitely on every healthcare company’s roadmap, just not necessarily the next item on the agenda.
Then the pandemic came, and the healthcare industry had to supercharge its efforts to go virtual, fast-tracking plans that might have taken months and rolling them out in a matter of weeks. Out of necessity, all care that could become virtual, did go virtual. One of the stand-out lessons has been that this model of care is not just suitable for those who can’t physically get to appointments, it is actually easy and convenient for everyone, providing they have access to digital services, either through a smartphone or other device. Of course, many types of care still require in-person treatment. Surgery and any services reliant on equipment that sits within healthcare settings, for instance. However, for a significant proportion of healthcare interactions, virtual has proved itself not just fit for purpose, but even preferable for many other reasons besides the necessity of social distancing. This is patient-centered care in action.
Better outcomes for patients and providers
Apexon has worked with customers in the digital health industry since its inception and our experience runs deep. We have been helping customers drive innovation for better healthcare outcomes for patients and providers in life sciences, pharma, and medical services for many years. Even before the pandemic, Apexon had first-hand experience of helping a major US healthcare provider meet the needs of its remote and homebound patients from one centralized hub. In the last twelve months, demand for virtual care has risen sharply, but shifting to a centralized virtual care hub is not easy pivot for many traditional health providers.
What should providers consider to ensure the effectiveness of their virtual care? What does going virtual consist of?
What can you expect from a centralized virtual care hub?
The first point of contact with the family physician, preventative care support, follow-up visits, remote post-hospital care and the remote management of chronic diseases can all be carried out from a virtual care hub.
What is involved in going virtual?
Shifting to a virtual care model can be a big cognitive leap for patients and providers alike. But how will I access this service, or that data? How can it possibly work online? These are common questions. The answers often lie in revealing the end-to-end process of a virtual visit. Show, don’t tell, as they say. Here is the anatomy of a virtual visit:
The digital ecosystem powering virtual care
A centralized virtual care system depends on the seamless interaction of many components – hardware, firmware, and software. Hardware components range from medical grade devices to consumer wearables. To learn more on how they’re changing the health landscape, take a look at the recent blog, MedTech and the IoMT Are Driving the Patient-Centric Care Revolution.
The most viable environment for digitally engineering, testing, and running a care hub is in the cloud, benefiting as it does from the very latest practices when it comes to security, performance, disaster recovery and compliance.
Whichever aspect of virtual care you are considering, Apexon is ready to answer your questions and solve your toughest digital challenges. Why not get in touch using the form below?