The clinical science of pulmonology has come a tremendously long way in recent decades, finding effective ways to address conditions such as cystic fibrosis, which used to amount to a death sentence. Pulmonologists have become quite adept at diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the lungs and other parts of the respiratory system that range from the sinuses to the diaphragm.
However, far too many patients still don’t have access to the prompt and effective pulmonology care that they need. Due to their remote geographical location or inability to secure proper healthcare coverage, people often get a respiratory illness diagnosis after the time window has closed on the most successful treatment options. Even well-insured patients in densely populated cities can experience dangerous delays during medical testing and analysis processes.
This is where the latest advancements in telepulmonology come in.
Telepulmonology Technology
From communicating virtually with specialists to procuring organs for transplants, telepulmonology leverages the power of advanced technology to provide preferred care and generate better patient outcomes. Specialist Direct, for example, works with a nationwide network of skilled pulmonologists to offer real-time telehealth solutions to patients with serious respiratory problems.
Consistent with its state-of-the-art telecardiology, telepathology, and teleradiology services, Specialist Direct’s telepulmonology services include expert interpretations of bronchoscopy procedures (bronchs), pulmonary function tests PulmonaryFunctionTests and sleep studies. Using cutting-edge scanning, digitization,and remote communication technology, telemedine leaders such as Specialist Direct have a history of delivering exceptional results.
One of the fastest growing specialties in the medial field, telepulmonology encompasses all forms of remote care for patients with respiratory system conditions. The high number of rural patients with pulmonary needs is rapidly increasing the demand for telepulmonology care. Other factors contributing to the expansion of telepulmonology include the many comorbidities that go hand in hand with chronic pulmonary conditions and the fact that many serious pulmonary conditions require a specialist to deliver quality inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and follow-up care.
The Benefits of Telepulmonology
Closing Critical Gaps in Pulmonology Care
As previously mentioned, telepulmonology has proven particularly effective when it comes to caring for patients in rural areas that do not have large medical centers and specialized healthcare providers nearby. Study after study has shown that rural patients generally do not receive definitive pulmonary diagnoses as quickly as their counterparts who receive treatment in the city. Telepulmonology has a demonstrated ability to deliver prompt and outstanding remote diagnostics to pulmonary patients wherever they happen to be.
Enhancing Patient Involvement and Control
No matter where they happen to live, pulmonology patients who want a full picture of their health condition in real-time love telepulmonology for its thoroughness and its immediacy. By using specialized scanners to provide extremely detailed bronchs and other diagnostic tools, a telepulmonology organization gives medical professionals the data that they need to provide a definitive diagnosis to patients and offer a variety of treatment options.
Empowering Providers of Primary Care
As early as 2014, experts had firmly identified telepulmonology as a key way to help primary care practitioners enhance medical services and streamline treatment delivery. Appearing in the peer-reviewed scholarly journal Respiratory Medicine, the article “Telepulmonology: Effect on quality and efficiency of care” concluded that “telepulmonology can contribute to quality of care by supporting general practitioners and can additionally prevent unnecessary physical referrals.” In short, telepulmonology not only furthers the capability of primary care providers but reduces private practice and medical center costs that are currently spiraling out of control.
