How Today’s Technology Could Yield Billions in Healthcare Savings

For many, thinking about the concept of telemedicine evokes images of a far-off future.   Images similar to “The Jetsons” can be forgiven here, as that show has pretty much symbolized the future since it launched.   But what’s seldom considered—and recently revealed by a study from professional services firm Towers Watson—is that much of the foundation of telemedicine is currently available, if somewhat underused.   Indeed, the Towers Watson study suggests that billions of dollars in savings are afoot for those who put the currently-available technology to work today.

HealthTechZone

 

Improved telemedicine system connects doctors to autism patients in rural Georgia

To get the best care for her three autistic children, Mandi Larkin would drive three hours from her family’s home in Tifton, Georgia, to Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta. The drive to and from Atlanta was exhausting. Missed work, missed school and the long drive were constant sources of stress. Today, Larkin’s children receive world-class medical care at her local hospital via a state-of-the-art telemedicine link to Marcus Autism Center.

MedicalXPress

Telemedicine gains ground in treatment of injured workers

Telemedicine is gaining ground in treating injured workers, especially in rural areas, to speed their evaluation and possibly reduce the costs paid by employers. The costs associated with treating workers in rural areas, in addition to more awareness about telemedicine and increased acceptance of technology, has led the industry to embrace the 40-year-old practice in new ways, said Jonathan Linkous, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association in Washington.

Modern Healthcare

Enabling Better Access to Healthcare