16 Specialty Telehealth Services You Must Pay Attention To

According to a report, 10 medical specialties prefer telehealth platforms frequently to treat chronic diseases. Long-term chronic ailments need constant visits, thus telehealth can minimize taxing visits to clinics or hospitals.

The report further states that psychiatrists and radiologists are largely interested in telehealth jobs as compared to surgeons and anaesthesiologist. These specialties are to be looked out for in the upcoming years.

Telehealth fulfills demands for care to patients, improves efficiency of the medical providers, and expands reach of specialists. Telehealth has the capacity to deliver sustainable value to specialty telehealth services and opens doors for multiple telehealth jobs.

This article highlights 16 specialty telehealth services and its benefits in certain medical fields.

16 Specialty Telehealth Services We Can Help You With

Here are the top specialty telehealth services that our company Arkenea has expertise in helping you develop a custom telehealth application in to help you start your telehealth practice.

1. Telehealth in Nutrition

Telehealth in nutrition or telenutrition indicates use of telecommunication by RD (Registered Dietician) to provide nutritional therapy to patients. RD assists patients in achieving nutritional goals such as meal planning, weight management, and improving overall nutritional supplements in body.

As per a study, dietary interventions via telehealth was effective in improving diet quality in over 7000 participants. Telehealth is used to improve fruits, vegetables, or whole foods intake and can be implemented for people suffering from chronic conditions.

The CPSTF (Community Preventive Services Task Force) recommends telehealth interventions for adults diagnosed with chronic conditions impacted by diet quality, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The CPSTF has found robust evidence indicating that telehealth interventions helps people eat healthy foods and less salt.

Furthermore, researchers at Jefferson Health, located in South Jersey and Greater Philadelphia area, will be utilizing telehealth to improve nutritional habits of diabetes patients. The program’s aim is to ameliorate patient’s lifestyle and to reduce negative outcomes.

2. Telehealth in Nursing

Telehealth in nursing is use of telehealth services to give care in remote locations, and this is also know as telenursing. Nurses utilize VOIP, telephones, chatting, and more communication methods to deliver remote care via telehealth.

Telehealth is used for in-patient care, thus nurses can monitor patients after discharge or while handling a chronic condition at home. Medical devices help nurses to keep track of vital signs such as blood glucose levels, blood pressure, heart rate, or oxygen concentration remotely.

Telehealth websites, nurse hotline, and online chats connect nurses with patients for symptom management and health questions. For instance, Argus Group, launched a ‘telenurse advice hotline’ for their customers during the pandemic. This service is available 24/7 for easy and quick medical advice.

3. Telehealth in Pharmacy

Also known as telepharmacy, rural communities are using this service to gain access to pharmacies. Telepharmacy is helping rural communities to tackle challenges such as lack of qualified pharmacists in the area.

Pharmacists are using telehealth services during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide care services and manage medications. For instance, Allie Fay, a clinical pharmacist at ‘The Family Health Centers’, located in Asheville, North Carolina used a telehealth platform to educate patients about insulin pumps and medication pens.

Pharmacists are using telehealth services for MTM (Medication Therapy Management), to offer ambulatory care, and for chronic disease management such as self-management training for diabetes.

4. Telehealth in Psychiatry

Telehealth in psychiatry, also known as telepsychiatry offers mental health services via video conference. Psychiatrists are able to deliver mental healthcare in an interactive and live sessions, which also involves recording of medical data that is reviewed later.

Telepsychiatry allows psychiatrists to communicate with patients remotely, thus expanding their range for delivering mental care to people. Further, psychiatrists can take regular follow-ups and avoid delays in care.

Saint Francis Hospital, based in West Virginia, has launched an outpatient telepsychiatry program to enhance psychiatric appointment access for people in the Charleston community. This program was launched in collaboration with InSight, a national provider for telepsychiatry.

5. Teletriage

Teletriage is a compilation of methods or means to enhance public health, healthcare, health education, and support through telecommunication. Teletriage is used during health emergencies to tackle the issue of rise in patient visits and low number of emergency departments.

Medical services covered under teletriage are home visits, video consultations, and e-visits. Further, teletriage is beneficial for healthcare providers, clinics, and hospitals to decrease wait times and provide care to low-risk patients. For instance, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, incorporated teletriage to cut down wait times.

6. Telehealth for Dentistry

During the Covid-19 pandemic, dentistry is considered as a dangerous profession because aerosol produced by dental hand piece is an easy medium for infection transfer.

Hence, telehealth for dentistry or teledentistry opened doors for dentists to connect with patients and diagnose non-urgent ailments.

Penn Dental Medicine, sees around 40 patients per day through a telemedicine platform and 12 to 20 people for dental care such as temporary crown replacements or tooth extractions.

However, for drilling purpose patient is referred to a hospital. Further, dentists can share images or videos of their patients’ via telehealth, and also conduct interactive sessions to discuss treatment options.

7. Telehealth for Cardiology

One of the specialty services offered by telehealth is cardiology or telecardiology which is designed to provide remote diagnosis and heart treatment at real-time. Congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, and cardiac arrests are covered under telecardiology. Telehealth prevents transport of cardiac patients to and from hospitals, home, and rehab centers.

Spectrum Health, based in Michigan which includes 155 ambulatory services and 14 hospitals, the general cardiologists provide complete examination through telehealth. Patients walk into clinics or hospitals, and medical staff use telehealth units to diagnose and screen them. Doctors communicate via cameras and HD screens.

8. Telehealth in Radiology

Telehealth in radiology or teleradiology aids radiologists to interpret medical images remotely. As per the American Medical Association (AMA), telehealth is highly used in radiology for patient interactions as compared to other medical branches.

Teleradiology expands services of radiologists and allows them to practice when away from clinic too. Thus, during emergencies a radiologist can examine scans and discuss with doctors for further treatment plans.

Recently, Nines, a teleradiology company used machine learning for crucial cases. The teleradiology technology used by the company detects ailments from head CT scans such as mass effect and haemorrhages. The technology helps radiologists to triage cases during workloads and busy schedules.

9. Telehealth in Sports Medicine

Telehealth in sports medicine is suited for treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of sports injuries on and off the field. For example, sometimes it’s difficult to conclude whether an athlete is ready to get back on the field after and injury, consultations via telehealth helps to make a sound decision.

Usage of telehealth helps to reduce unnecessary admissions in the emergency rooms and makes it easier for doctors to take follow-ups frequently. A report published in the Journal of ISAKOS stated that sports medicine can use telehealth platforms to ameliorate remote care.

The study reports that telehealth reduced visit and wait time, thus eliminating the need to drive to the hospital for every checkup. This resulted in reduction of hospital expenses and patients were satisfied with it too.

10. Telehealth in Ophthalmology

The role of telehealth in ophthalmology medical field is to diagnose unrelated eye diseases such as diabetes. Telehealth in ophthalmology or teleophthalmology helps to diagnose and treat two major diseases – ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity) and DR (Diabetic Retinopathy).

Teleophthalmology establishes remote surveillance of DR and improves patients’ access to yearly DR screening via patient imaging in primary care.

Teleophthalmology for ROP provides access to eye care for premature babies who are at high risk for developing ROP. Further, telehealth offers ophthalmic care by using imaging technology.

Recently, Duke Ophthalmology introduced a DR telehealth for early diagnosis and improved access to eye screening at minimal costs. The idea was to place OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) and non-mydriatic color fundus cameras at Duke’s primary care units to screen diabetic patients.

11. Telehealth in Urology

Urology medical field is suited for telehealth technology because providers can use it for pre and post operative evaluation, offer pediatric consultations, and routine care for home residents.

For instance, the University of California Davis Department of Urology rendered telehealth urology consultations for pediatric and adult urological conditions. Patients were seen in presence of a primary care physician with an audio-visual connection.

Patients at Los Angeles VA have reported 95 percent satisfaction rate for teleurology services and for diagnosing healthcare conditions such as elevated PSA (Prostrate Specific Antigen), lower urinary tract symptom, and prostrate cancer.

12. Telehealth in Dermatology

Teledermatology or telehealth in dermatology allows a patient to book appointment for skin concerns such as follicular lesions, eczema, fungal infections, viral warts, acne, or bacterial infections. However, teledermatology doesn’t support skin surgeries.

According to CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), dermatologists can use telehealth for any patient in any place, and can provide virtual check-in services for new and old patients. Also, dermatologists can offer supervision to non-physician virtually via audio and video mode of communication.

13. Telehealth in Paediatrics

As per a survey, video conferencing is a common means of using telehealth in paediatric care to children with special needs. Telehealth is utilized for providing healthcare services to special kids, to enhance paediatric care, and enable remote monitoring for chronic conditions.

For instance, the GDPH (Georgia Department of Public Health) collaborates paediatric specialty clinics for kids living in rural areas. Clinics use telehealth technology for providing paediatric care and general diagnosis.

Further, telehealth is suitable to render remote monitoring and care for babies. For example, an alliance between Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Childress Regional Medical Center, Texas, offers consultation and remote monitoring with neonatologists and physicians via telehealth.

14. Telehealth for Pathology

Telehealth in pathology or telepathology allows physicians to practice pathology remotely. Pathologists use virtual slide system of telehealth for reviewing samples remotely.

Another domain of telepathology – real-time systems allows pathologists to use specialized microscopes with virtual software to analyze images.

Specialist can click pictures of samples and review it remotely. UCLA Health has the largest international telepathology programs; experts analyze pathology images and consult with healthcare professionals from anywhere. UCLA’s telepathology services improves treatment and diagnosis along with research and education.

15. Telehealth for Neurology

As per a report published in the Neurology journal, video calls are found to be as effective as in-clinic visits for those diagnosed with a range of neurological diseases.

Also, telehealth in neurology or teleneurology is an appropriate tool for people suffering from diseases such as movement disorders, dementia, migraines, and several other neurological diseases as this eliminates the need for travel for weak patients.

Teleneurology is helpful for people diagnosed with rapidly progressing diseases that impacts mobility. NYU Langone Health’s Department of Neurology provided virtual care to patients during the pandemic.

In January 2021, around 40 percent of neurology visits were conducted at NYU Langone Health through telehealth across 18,000 locations and 96,500 healthcare providers.

16. Telehealth for Rehabilitation

Telehealth for rehabilitation allows patients with drug usage to receive treatment and counseling for their recovery. Telerehabilitation services cuts out expenses, travel time, and offers convenience.

Telehealth has the capacity to raise therapy sessions and MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) medicine that are conducted in rural areas via specialty consultations remotely.

Recovery First Treatment Center, Florida is using telehealth technology for outpatient services and to reach people who are looking for addiction solutions, however cannot travel due to the pandemic.

Specialty telehealth services covers a range of medical fields and Arkenea can help you to establish these services for diagnosis, treatment, and medication of patients at your clinics or hospitals.