4 ms·

I wonder if this change would be a net win for U.S. healthcare: - Healthcare regulations (HIPPA, insurance coverage, etc.) are updated to make this the new nor

I wonder if this change would be a net win for U.S. healthcare: - Healthcare regulations (HIPPA, insurance coverage, etc.) are updated to make this the new normal. - Each household is supplied with a decent-quality thermometer, BP cuff, and camera-enabled ear/eye/throat scope. I.e., only 1 step down in quality from what physicians have in the offices. Rudimentary training is given to any interested adult for using these, under the supervision of a physician. - When someone gets sick, they schedule a Skype-like call with their doctor's office. During that call, the doctor/nurse guides someone else in the household to use those devices as appropriate to gather the data. Based on those results and interviewing the patient, the doctor then provides guidance, and perhaps sends a prescription to the pharmacy / blood lab, and/or asks the patient to come to the office for a more thorough exam. I would imagine that benefits everyone involved, and perhaps reduces the risk of infections spread at the doctor's office.

TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago
The majority of my GP visits over the course of my life thus far could have been carried out this way. We really aren’t making full use of the technology we have
alfiedotwtf 7y ago
> Each household is supplied with a decent-quality thermometer, BP cuff, and camera-enabled ear/eye/throat scope. I think you’re overestimating the capabilities of most people to follow instructions. ... video conferencing doesn’t work at the best of times with IT worker meetings. Good luck with the general populace
- randallsquared 7y ago
  > ... video conferencing doesn’t work at the best of times with IT worker meetings. As recently as three years ago I would have agreed, but video chat is now quite reliable in my experience.
  - TrueDuality 7y ago
    In general I agree but every video chat platform requires a stable and relatively fast / low latency internet connection to be be stable. On lower end hardware the encoding of some platforms is also an issue. I suspect without other changes a switch to this as a default means of getting initial care or appointments might negatively impact people that are already disenfranchised.
    - ArtDev 7y ago
      That's where they can drive to a Telehealth clinic. They are very useful in other situations where a patient nerds to see a specialist but cannot travel. Meanwhile, the internet isn't even considered a utility. Which is especially absurd, in light of recent events.
      - DoofusOfDeath 7y ago
        > They are very useful in other situations where a patient nerds to see a specialist ... That's a fabulous Freudian slip!
  - therealcamino 7y ago
    I agree -- while some of us have been fussing with WebEx in the corporate world for years, Zoom seems to have sneaked in from the ease-of-use, small market position. It's working great for my kid's school that has zero dedicated IT workers.
- KKKKkkkk1 7y ago
  My experience is that WebEx is far behind FaceTime and Skype in terms of reliability and ease of use. So the failures of videoconferencing in the corporate IT context are IMHO self inflicted.
- paulie_a 7y ago
  The biggest obstacle is people are lazy according to telehealth nurses
  - DoofusOfDeath 7y ago
    In what way would laziness come into play for telehealth?
    - paulie_a 7y ago
      People will not actually spend the three minutes to do it everyday. Even people with serious medical conditions skip it most days until a nurse calls to prod them to. This is according to telehealth and inhome care nurses.
londons_explore 7y ago
There would still be a $250 bill for a 4 minute video call... And I bet the physician would have 5 calls going on at once too...
- viraptor 7y ago
  Multiple calls are not realistic. You just can't do that while keeping track of records, taking notes, taking history, actually doing a consultation. If you want a "is my throat inflamed? Can I get a doctor's note?" you could maybe do a call with a nurse in 5min. But that probably the minimum possible.
- James_Henry 7y ago
  If you have ever used telehealth, it is almost always cheaper than a physical doctor's visit. My provider is only $45 or so for the standard 15-or-so minute call.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - kube-system 7y ago
    Mine is usually about the same price, except right now during the COVID-19 outbreak it is completely free.
paulie_a 7y ago
You don't need a video conference. Phone call is perfectly fine. I have a telehealth system for heart failure. It works quite well. If my numbers slide over a few days I will definitely be contacted. If it is an abrupt change in readings I will be contacted immediately. Sometimes it really is a misread which is now generally ignored for my circumstances because the person checking my readings have become familiar. For instance if my BP shows 99/60 one day and drops to 40/40 it will be ignored. If it drops to the 70 range I will get a call. The system is incredibly easy to do but many people simply don't put the minimal effort in. I have one + a cardiomem and it takes me less than three minutes in the morning. The system works well and could be widely adapted for less serious conditions if people were not so lazy

TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago

The majority of my GP visits over the course of my life thus far could have been carried out this way. We really aren’t making full use of the technology we have

alfiedotwtf 7y ago

> Each household is supplied with a decent-quality thermometer, BP cuff, and camera-enabled ear/eye/throat scope. I think you’re overestimating the capabilities of most people to follow instructions. ... video conferencing doesn’t work at the best of times with IT worker meetings. Good luck with the general populace

randallsquared 7y ago
> ... video conferencing doesn’t work at the best of times with IT worker meetings. As recently as three years ago I would have agreed, but video chat is now quite reliable in my experience.
- TrueDuality 7y ago
  In general I agree but every video chat platform requires a stable and relatively fast / low latency internet connection to be be stable. On lower end hardware the encoding of some platforms is also an issue. I suspect without other changes a switch to this as a default means of getting initial care or appointments might negatively impact people that are already disenfranchised.
  - ArtDev 7y ago
    That's where they can drive to a Telehealth clinic. They are very useful in other situations where a patient nerds to see a specialist but cannot travel. Meanwhile, the internet isn't even considered a utility. Which is especially absurd, in light of recent events.
    - DoofusOfDeath 7y ago
      > They are very useful in other situations where a patient nerds to see a specialist ... That's a fabulous Freudian slip!
- therealcamino 7y ago
  I agree -- while some of us have been fussing with WebEx in the corporate world for years, Zoom seems to have sneaked in from the ease-of-use, small market position. It's working great for my kid's school that has zero dedicated IT workers.
KKKKkkkk1 7y ago
My experience is that WebEx is far behind FaceTime and Skype in terms of reliability and ease of use. So the failures of videoconferencing in the corporate IT context are IMHO self inflicted.
paulie_a 7y ago
The biggest obstacle is people are lazy according to telehealth nurses
- DoofusOfDeath 7y ago
  In what way would laziness come into play for telehealth?
  - paulie_a 7y ago
    People will not actually spend the three minutes to do it everyday. Even people with serious medical conditions skip it most days until a nurse calls to prod them to. This is according to telehealth and inhome care nurses.

londons_explore 7y ago

There would still be a $250 bill for a 4 minute video call... And I bet the physician would have 5 calls going on at once too...

viraptor 7y ago
Multiple calls are not realistic. You just can't do that while keeping track of records, taking notes, taking history, actually doing a consultation. If you want a "is my throat inflamed? Can I get a doctor's note?" you could maybe do a call with a nurse in 5min. But that probably the minimum possible.
James_Henry 7y ago
If you have ever used telehealth, it is almost always cheaper than a physical doctor's visit. My provider is only $45 or so for the standard 15-or-so minute call.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- kube-system 7y ago
  Mine is usually about the same price, except right now during the COVID-19 outbreak it is completely free.

paulie_a 7y ago

You don't need a video conference. Phone call is perfectly fine. I have a telehealth system for heart failure. It works quite well. If my numbers slide over a few days I will definitely be contacted. If it is an abrupt change in readings I will be contacted immediately. Sometimes it really is a misread which is now generally ignored for my circumstances because the person checking my readings have become familiar. For instance if my BP shows 99/60 one day and drops to 40/40 it will be ignored. If it drops to the 70 range I will get a call. The system is incredibly easy to do but many people simply don't put the minimal effort in. I have one + a cardiomem and it takes me less than three minutes in the morning. The system works well and could be widely adapted for less serious conditions if people were not so lazy