The Use of Clinical Systems to Improve Outcomes and Efficiencies
Telehealth and telemedicine are clinical systems that utilize technology to deliver healthcare services remotely. This can include video conferencing, phone calls, text messaging, and remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices (Shaker, 2023). Telehealth and telemedicine have the potential to improve outcomes and efficiencies in a variety of healthcare settings, including primary care, specialty care, and mental health care.
This paper will synthesize peer-reviewed research on the application of telehealth and telemedicine to improve outcomes and/or efficiencies. Specifically, the paper will identify four peer-reviewed research articles published within the last five years that provide evidence to support the use of one type of clinical system to improve outcomes and/or efficiencies.
Literature Review
Shaker, A. A., Austin, S. F., Storebø, O. J., Schaug, J. P., Ayad, A., Sørensen, J. A., … & Simonsen, E. (2023). Psychiatric Treatment Conducted via Telemedicine Versus In-Person Modality in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Mood Disorders, and Anxiety Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JMIR Mental Health, 10(1), e44790–e44790. https://doi.org/10.2196/44790
The systematic review and meta-analysis discussed the efficacy of telemedicine for treating psychiatric conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mood disorders, and anxiety disorders in adults. The findings indicating that telemedicine is comparable to in-person treatment across multiple parameters, including efficacy, patient satisfaction, working alliance, and attrition rates, highlight the potential of telepsychiatry as a valuable alternative.
It is particularly advantageous for individuals who face difficulties accessing traditional in-person mental health care (Shaker, 2023). The results suggest that telemedicine can provide a viable, effective, and accessible option for psychiatric treatment, even amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the advantages highlighted in the article, it’s important to recognize the broader impact of telemedicine in the field of psychiatry. Telepsychiatry expands access to care for individuals who may be geographically isolated or have limited mobility. The model also has the potential to reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health services.
According to the article, telemedicine allows for the delivery of care by specialized mental health professionals, even in regions with shortages of such experts, ultimately contributing to improved mental health outcomes for a wider population (Shaker, 2023). The authors note that telemedicine has a number of advantages over in-person treatment, including convenience, affordability, and reduced stigma.
However, they also note that telemedicine may not be appropriate for all patients, such as those with severe mental illness or those who are at risk of suicide. This article provides a valuable contribution to the literature on telemedicine and psychiatric treatment. It is well-written and informative, and the findings are likely to be of interest to clinicians, researchers, and policymakers alike.
Lewinski, A. A., Walsh, C., Rushton, S., Soliman, D., Carlson, S. M., Luedke, M., Halpern, D. J., Crowley, M. J., Shaw, R., Sharpe, J. A., Alexopoulos, A., Amir Alishahi Tabriz, Dietch, J. R., Uthappa, D. M., Hwang, S., Ball, K. A., Cantrell, S., Kosinski, A. S., Ear, B., & Gordon, A. M. (2022). Telehealth for the Longitudinal Management of Chronic Conditions: Systematic Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(8), e37100–e37100. https://doi.org/10.2196/37100
The systematic review provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of telehealth interventions in managing chronic diseases, specifically focusing on conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. It underscores the positive impact of telehealth on clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and overall quality of life for individuals dealing with these chronic conditions (Lewinski et al., 2022). The review highlights that telehealth interventions are indeed effective in managing chronic diseases.
This is significant because chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, require ongoing care and management. Telehealth offers a means of providing this care remotely, which can be especially important for patients who have limited access to healthcare facilities, face transportation challenges, or prefer the convenience of
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