Telehealth for Injuries California

Telehealth offers various benefits for the management of injury if you are presently located in California, and such advantages can be categorized into three stages of injury management:.

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Telehealth for Injury Prevention - Prevention is one of the essential aspects in the field of health care. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 50% of all diseases are due to injuries. In the United States alone, injury costs over $500 billion every year. Telehealth provides easier prevention techniques that wouldn’t be as convenient and efficient with face-to-face set-up. The most obvious is remote patient monitoring, which allows doctors and nurses to keep tabs on patients at home who have been released after an acute medical event such as a heart attack or surgery. Through constant monitoring, the chances of readmissions and compliance with a treatment plan are guaranteed. Moreover, telehealth can also be used for more proactive approaches to preventing injuries in the first place. For instance, the incidence of older adults suffering from falls and balance-related injuries is increasing every year. Telehealth can be used to monitor these patients remotely so that changes in their condition can be detected early on and addressed before they become serious problems like broken bones or head trauma from hitting the ground hard enough to cause unconsciousness.

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Telehealth for Acute Management of Injury - Acute stage management of injury includes early assessment and triage, treatment, pain, and infection control. A simple injury, if not managed promptly, may lead to more serious risks and complications, such as developing an infectious disease. With the use of Telehealth, patients of all ages, including a child and older adults, can access timely consultation with their doctor of choice through telehealth applications by using their computer or mobile devices.  A recent study conducted by the University of Utah found that telehealth services can effectively and efficiently help patients manage their acute injuries. The study looked at 86 patients who had suffered from a wide range of injuries, from ankle sprains to fractures to lacerations. The patients were split into two groups: a control group that received routine care and a test group that received telemedicine visits for the first 48 hours after injury. Those receiving telemedicine appointments were able to see their physician in person within two hours of the injury, which was an important factor in reducing pain, speeding up healing time, and addressing their questions with the treatment plan. In addition to that, they also received better health teachings about self-care and wound-cleaning techniques from their healthcare provider, which helped them manage their condition more effectively afterward.

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Telehealth Physical Therapy - Telehealth can also be used to deliver physical therapy services to patients who are not only facing transportation and distance challenges but are unable to do so due to their present injury or illness. Physical therapists who use telehealth can provide a wide range of services, including health assessments, guided exercises, and providing health guidance and education. Moreover, they can add support and motivation to their patients.  There are four common ways how physical therapy could possibly be delivered to patients.

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• Live video delivery, as the name suggests, takes place when two parties interact live with one another over a video conference. It is an excellent tool for examinations and treatments.

• Mobile health application - refers to the transfer of health-related updates, concerns, educational materials, and notifications via mobile devices such as cell phones, computers, tablets, and other electronic gadgets. This method of communication is perfect for informing patients about changes made to treatment plans.

• Store-and-forward - This is simply the transfer of medical records and/or health histories and health-related documents over a private and trusted electronic network. The most appropriate use for this mode of delivery is for the transmission of x-rays, laboratory exam results, progress notes, giving out prescriptions, and similar items. 

• Remote patient monitoring is being able to monitor patients and their health records and other medical information using encrypted digital channels. This method of administration is perfect for monitoring patients' blood pressure and/or blood glucose levels, the number of steps they take each day, and other similar metrics.

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