What is Telemedicine?

• Telemedicine is the ability to provide healthcare utilizing digital technology and telecommunications to transcend the barriers of distance and time. 
• Telemedicine allows patients to visit with physicians via real-time audio and video communication channels for immediate care or alternatively, the capture of video/still images and/or other patient data that is stored and sent to physicians for monitoring, diagnosis and follow-up treatment at a later time.

• Real-Time: Live video allows the provider, patient and specialist to all communicate together to achieve the best outcome for the patient.  Peripheral instrumentation, such as cameras and other digital sensors are used to gather and display relevant data for patient diagnosis.
• Store and Forward (asynchronous): Used when health providers are not available or not immediately required. Pictures and/or video, and other data, such as radiology images, that document the patient’s affection, are forwarded for diagnosis. These recordings are either emailed or placed on a server for the specialist's access. The specialist then follows up with his diagnosis and treatment plan.

Telemedicine applications include:

• Office Visits
• Consultations
• Remote Patient Monitoring – ICU, Assisted Living, Nursing Home, Hospice
• Emergency Response

• Expanded care: Telemedicine can provide improved access to health care in previously un-served or under-served areas.
• Improved quality of care: Telemedicine allows the consultation to take place among the referring physician, the consulting physician, the patient, and the patient’s family with critical and current patient information. Additionally, physicians or other personnel at remote locations can be educated during consultations with specialty physicians and other experts, increasing their ability to treat other similar cases in the future.
• Reduced cost: The travel cost of the patients for specialty care, the travel cost for health care professionals for continuing education or consultation, can be avoided.  Personnel and equipment at specialty care facilities can be leveraged across a wider patient base.
• More collaboration: Telemedicine allows for more timely and more peer and specialist interaction for patient consultations and continuing education
• Access & Convenience: Telemedicine can reduce travel and related stress of Patients and their families.  Without these services, a patient may not be able to access a provider without great effort and difficulty. Likewise, telemedicine technologies allow doctors to be more efficient and have potential to assist more patients.
• Reduction in Required Healthcare: Increased access to healthcare through telemedicine means that symptoms, complications, etc. can be quickly diagnosed. Early detection and diagnosis translates into not better overall health of the patient, reduction in emergency room visits and hospitalizations, as well as, earlier discharge from hospitalized care, when it is necessary.
• Cost Efficiencies: Telemedicine can reduce the cost of healthcare and increase efficiency through better management of chronic diseases, shared health professional staffing, reduced travel time, as well as fewer or shorter hospital stays.
• Increased Independence: Elderly patients can be monitored and remain independent for longer periods of time. The costs associated with assisted living can be extraordinary, and older adults often experience a higher level of mental satisfaction when they can remain independent. Family members are not required to provide continuous medical assistance.
• Efficient Delivery: Telemedicine streamlines the process by which a patient receives healthcare. Patients spend less time at medical facilities, or generally in the process of having healthcare administered to them.

Cost for Telemedicine Solutions:

• THIS can depend on who you talk to! The sound "Telemedicine" rings with $$$$$ but, in actuality, the communications technology used behind doing it, is not. There is the cost of electronic medical device that add some to the cost but our philosophy and belief is that still should not make it unaffordable for even solo / small practices to consider.   
• Let us develop a proposal based upon your envisioned use of telemedicine. GSC LLC will develop a proposal, with multiple levels of options, that will detail a strategy / implementation plan. Telemedicine implementation will be based upon agreed to proposal