Is Telemedicine Effective for Orthopedic Conditions?

1. Is Telemedicine Effective for Orthopedic Conditions? Telemedicine is proving an effective tool for preoperative and postoperative orthopedic treatment and follow-up. MoonlightOrtho 100 W. Liberty St, 10th Floor Reno, NV 89501

2. Telemedicine and telehealth have made big strides in recent times, gaining wide acceptance among policymakers, healthcare organizations, physicians, and patients. Remote patient monitoring is popular among patients as it allows them to interact live with their providers, promoting individualized care and improved health outcomes. As telemedicine gains traction, it is being widely recognized as an effective option to treat orthopedic conditions. The general benefits of telemedicine are: -Improved access– Telemedicine improves access to healthcare for patients in remote areas. It allows physicians and health facilities to extend their reach and overcome physical boundaries. -Cost savings– With lower direct labor costs and lower resource utilization, virtual healthcare costs less than an in-office visit. Telemedicine is being touted as the answer to the nation’s increasing healthcare costs. -Increases efficiency– With shared health professional staffing, telemedicine facilitates better management of chronic conditions and results in fewer or shorter hospital stays. The quality of care provided is just as good as an in-person consultations according to recent studies. -Saves time: For patients, virtual care cuts travel time, expenses, and stress. They can get the care they need at a convenient time in their home or office. Recent reports indicate that telemedicine will transform the delivery of orthopedic care in the coming years. In fact, innovative orthopedic-specific telemedicine practices, such as MoonlightOrtho.com, are already using cutting-edge technology to connect patients and providers. There are many reasons why telemedicine is an effective option for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions: www.moonlightortho.com (833) 327-8972

3. Orthopedic follow-up for patients with complex needs: Telemedicine has an important role in serving patients with complex orthopedic needs in underserved and rural communities or in other states, according to an article in Healio Orthopedics Today. Remote patient monitoring is an ideal option for complications such as hip or knee infection after joint replacement or serious problems like acute trauma, cancer and pediatric diagnoses. Phone calls would not work for such concerns. Virtual consultations allow patients to be seen by specialists in the comfort of their home, eliminating the need to travel to a central location for follow-up. Mobile apps, video, and text systems are supporting increased remote patient follow-up by orthopedists. The article also points out that telemedicine services are a good option for patients who do well after surgery and are ready to resume work. Telemedicine allows them to consult with their surgeon without having to take time off for a visit to the practice. Ideal for evaluation of established patients: In an article published by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, an orthopedic specialist describes how the telemedicine division in his hospital encouraged physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses to use telemedicine to evaluate and treat patients whenever possible. According to him, video conferencing works well to evaluate established patients remotely for simple follow-ups, routine post-ops, surgical discussions, wound checks, and MRI/lab result reviews. Increased flexibility for provider and patient: In-person visits are scheduled when the clinic is open and staff is available. Telemedicine gives patients and providers unprecedented flexibility. It reduces the long wait times and frustrations that patients experience, particularly with store and forward (asynchronous video). The e-visit can be scheduled within the electronic medical record like the physical consult, but patients don’t have to spend extra time to wait in the facility to see their physician. The virtual consult can be conducted during the provider’s regular clinic hours or scheduled for after-hours, or, with www.moonlightortho.com (833) 327-8972

4. asynchronous video telecommunication, such as MoonlightOrtho utilizes, the visits can be completed at the convenience of patients and providers as “Real Time” or “Fact Time” video is not needed. For providers, telemedicine eliminates late arrivals and no shows and supports clinical documentation improvement. Diagnosis via remote analyses of x-rays: Telemedicine platforms can facilitate initial diagnosis of orthopedic conditions by working as a “triage tool” for Orthopedic providers. Conditions that can be diagnosed via telemedicine include: Achilles tendinitis, rotator cuff syndrome, ankle and wrist sprains, low back and neck pain due to spasm, plantar fasciitis, knee and shoulder arthritis, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – just to name a few. Digital x-ray images can be uploaded on the platform and used to assess skeletal trauma, arthritis and other pathologies. These images can also help physicians monitor and measure healing progress of fracture gaps and wear-and-tear of orthopedic implants. Postoperative rehabilitation: Orthopedic telemedicine is useful for postoperative follow-up and rehabilitation, including teleinstructing and supervised active exercising. These services can be provided on a one-to-one basis or as group sessions. Telemedicine can eliminate the need for home physical therapy and visiting nurse service (VNS), thereby reducing costs. Telemedicine is undoubtedly a powerful tool for preoperative and postoperative orthopedic treatment and follow-up. Barriers to virtual care include patient noncompliance due to unfamiliarity with technology and virtual systems and technological glitches during the consult. These can be resolved through training programs. Patients should take care to choose providers who use virtual applications that are HIPAA-compliant and adhere to the standards, guidelines and best practices of the American Telemedicine Association. www.moonlightortho.com (833) 327-8972