Telemedicine and VOIP: 5 Use Cases of VOIP in Healthcare & Telemedicine

Telemedicine and VOIP in Healthcare

Telemedicine and VOIP are the two most progressive technologies in the sphere of health care. The telemedicine market is stated to be $115 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $286.22 billion by 2030. This growth is attributed to the use of telehealth services; 37% of the adults in the United States used telemedicine in 2021.

This change is made possible by the VOIP technology. It helps the healthcare providers in the provision of consultation services and enhance the quality of services delivered to the clients. For instance, telemedicine services in hospitals employ VOIP to extend a word to patients who cannot physically attend hospitals for one reason or the other.

Also, VOIP technology improves communication in health care facilities since the doctors can talk to the patients in a real sense. This enhances the quality of care delivered to the patients and also the time that the patients spend waiting for the care to be delivered to them is also reduced.

Telemedicine and VOIP are also cost effective solutions which eliminates geographical barrier and offers voice communication anywhere in the world. This is especially beneficial to the healthcare organizations most of which are located in different parts of the world.

5 Use Cases of VOIP in Healthcare & Telemedicine

Telemedicine and VOIP have therefore helped to transform the delivery of healthcare in the society. Telephony including VOIP promotes the communication between the healthcare providers and the patients, which is crucial in telemedicine especially in the remote areas.

Recent statistics show that 94% of the IT departments recommend VOIP for healthcare because of compatibility with EHR systems. For example, doctors can be able to make a call to the patients using VOIP and remind them of their appointments.

Additionally, VOIP enabled video calls, and therefore consultations can be made online. This goes a long way in reducing the number of trips that need to be made and at the same time enhances the access to health care. A report also reveals that as of now, 550,000 companies are employing the use of the VOIP technology.

Telemedicine and VOIP are significant to today’s healthcare since they assist in improving the patients’ status by reducing the number of readmissions and ER visits. This section will elaborate ten specific cases of VOIP application in healthcare and telemedicine.

Use Case 1: Remote Consultations

Telemedicine is now one of the essential tools of the modern healthcare system. Telemedicine and VOIP allow doctors to reach out to patients irrespective of their location and this technology was on the rise especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. As found in a study done by JAMA Network, the use of electronic consultations was found to have risen significantly during this period.

5 Use Cases of VOIP in Healthcare & Telemedicine

Another advantage of remote consultations is convenience. People who are in rural or hard-to-reach areas can get medical consultation without having to go through long distances. For example, a patient in a remote village can consult a specialist in a city hospital without having to travel physically and spend a lot of money.

Furthermore, consultations done through other means that do not require face to face contact are cheaper. They do away with the physical structures hence cutting down on costs such as overheads. A study by BMJ Open reveals that video consultations are cheaper than face-to-face consultations, thus making it easier for the healthcare providers to cut costs.

The other benefit is flexibility that comes with the use of the system. This is convenient for the patients since they can book their appointments at their own time, say for instance, those with tight working schedules or those with disabilities. For instance, a working professional can have a consultation during his/her lunch break without having to travel to the doctor’s office.

Also, remote consultations enhance the quality of care by ensuring patients gain timely medical attention especially for chronic diseases. According to a survey conducted by the NHS England, it was revealed that remote consultations are effective in the management of chronic diseases.

Use Case 2: Virtual Follow-ups

Telemedicine and VOIP cannot be complete without follow-ups, which are an essential part of the process of providing continuous care to the patient. This method is particularly useful in the case of patients with chronic diseases that need frequent check-ups.

A few studies published in the last few years reveal that telehealth follow-up rates are less than 40% within 90 days of the first consultation, which suggests that there is room for improvement. With the help of VOIP technology, the follow-up rates in healthcare providers can be enhanced.

For instance, a patient who is discharged from the emergency department can have a follow-up appointment through a video call to explain medication instructions and to organize a referral appointment. Also, RPM devices can be used to monitor a patient’s vital signs and report the results to the healthcare providers.

Telemedicine and VOIP also offer psychological support to the patients and this is especially crucial for those who are confined. Telecheck-ups can identify issues that need to be corrected and correct them before the patient has to go back to the emergency department.

Furthermore, virtual follow-ups minimize hospital expenses because they assist in preventing patients’ readmissions and penalties for certain illnesses. This makes telemedicine and VOIP an efficient solution for both the patients and the healthcare givers.

Use Case 3: Emergency Response

Telemedicine and VOIP are very important in emergency response. In emergencies, communication has to be fast and effective, and VOIP systems allow healthcare providers to get in touch with each other without complications.

Examples are illustrated to show how VOIP is useful in emergency situations. For example, in natural disasters, VOIP systems enable medical staff to organize and treat patients without physically coming into contact with them. According to a report, in 2020, telehealth made up 30 percent of all the outpatient cases. Telemedicine is thus seen to have been used during crises, with 2% of all health center visits having been conducted through telemedicine between June and November.

Furthermore, studies focus on the advantages of VOIP in healthcare. The National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers’ study also points out that HIPAA compliance should be maintained when using VOIP systems and that patient information should not be compromised in emergencies.

Use Case 4: Medical Training and Education

The VOIP technology enables communication to be effected in a very efficient manner. It allows medical students to listen to lectures and contribute to the discussion. This is particularly helpful to students in remote areas of the country and other parts of the world. They can be able to get quality education without having to move around.

An example of this is the application of VOIP in surgical training. Live surgeries can be performed by surgeons and can show the students how it is done across the world. This method has been demonstrated to be useful in enhancing surgical skills. Another research showed that students who underwent VOIP based training scored 20% higher in their practical tests.

In addition, telemedicine platforms provide case scenarios that are in a more engaging format. These platforms enable the students to practice on patient interactions without actually coming into contact with the patients. This is very useful in their learning process since they are able to have hands -on experience. It helps in preparing the students for real life situations.

Other studies show that telemedicine and VOIP are also used in the continuous medical education 1. Doctors and nurses can participate in webinars and online classes. This ensures that they are well informed with the latest development in the medical field. It also offers flexibility in the learning process.

Use Case 5: Administrative Communication

Telemedicine and VOIP have become the new trend in administrative communication in the health care facilities. Communication is very important in the management of health facilities and VOIP systems enhance the flow of communication among the staff, departments and patients.

Specific examples include hospitals where they have implemented the use of VOIP in the coordination of care. For instance, a hospital in New York uses VOIP in order to connect with other specialists who are not physically present in the hospital thus enhancing the care that is provided to patients and the amount of time that is taken. Another example is a clinic in California that adopted the use of VOIP to call clients for appointment reminders, and this has greatly helped to reduce cases of no-shows.

Reports confirm these benefits. As stated by the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers, VOIP systems improve the communication and HIPAA compliance that is critical in the protection of patient data.

How Designveloper Can Help Utilize Telemedicine and VOIP

Designveloper is a web and software development company in Vietnam that has worked with telemedicine and VOIP. We have successfully completed over one hundred projects in over twenty industries. Our experience guarantees that healthcare providers can benefit from telemedicine and VOIP to the fullest.

Among our most successful products, there is ODC – the healthcare platform for doctors and patients. The platform enables patients to make appointments, order drugs and even get a medical check up online. Doctors are also able to handle documents, prescriptions, bookings, and payments. This project demonstrates how we are able to implement telemedicine and VOIP solutions.

Telemedicine requires VOIP technology to be effective in its operation. It supports video calls and remote consultations and makes medical care more available. For instance, VOIP enables hospitals to deliver telemedicine to patients in other regions so that they do not have to travel to access healthcare services.

Also, VOIP systems can be interfaced with electronic health record systems or EHR systems. This integration improves the level of patient satisfaction and also the flow of communication between the providers and the patients. The knowledge of Designveloper in VOIP guarantees compatibility with the current healthcare systems.

We have a team of professionals who are always ready to offer our clients the best services. We use modern technologies, including React, Node. js, and MongoDB, for the development of strong telemedicine and VOIP solutions. This commitment has given us a good standing in the market especially in the IT sector.

Conclusion

Therefore, the integration of telemedicine and VOIP has many advantages. It provides better access to care, helps to communicate with patients, and complies with the legislation. As the market of telemedicine develops, the importance of VOIP in the sphere of healthcare will be even more significant. Thus, the integration of VOIP technology in telemedicine should be encouraged to be the future of the healthcare system.