The past few years have completely changed the way we look at healthcare. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the use of telehealth services has skyrocketed.
Many healthcare facilities in rural America have limited resources in their practice. Telehealth allows more practices to access the quality care they may not have had before.
One example is access to ultrasound interpretations by professional radiologists. Regardless of location, everyone deserves to get the highest quality of care. Facilities can now connect with expert specialists from anywhere at any time.
Keep reading to learn more about virtual ultrasound interpretations and telehealth. The benefits are endless.
Ultrasound Interpretations
Usually, radiologists do the ultrasound interpretations. But understanding what the images mean during visits with patients is still important. Feeling confident with the results you’re explaining can help patients feel more comfortable.
When you look at an ultrasound image, there are many different shades of black, gray, and white.
In a fetal ultrasound, the amniotic fluid will appear black, and the baby will appear white or gray. The denser the tissue is, the brighter it will appear on the image. The bone will appear white.
For fetal ultrasounds, it is also possible to find the sex of the baby during 18 to 20 weeks into pregnancy. But other visual effects can interfere with this, so it may not be completely accurate.
What you see on the image depends on the angle of the ultrasound probe and how you are handling it. Understanding human anatomy and the exact locations of certain organs is helpful.
Ultrasound Telehealth Solutions
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the healthcare industry. Many have been isolated at home over the past few years. With this change in society, telehealth has been crucial during this time.
It has helped encourage people to stay home and stop the spread of infection during this time.
But, its convenience will have benefits after the pandemic, too. Many people enjoy the flexibility to receive medical care anytime and anywhere.
Ultrasounds have been especially helpful in telehealth solutions. The images are easy to access from any place, making it easier for patients to receive efficient care.
When a patient visits a healthcare facility, radiologists can virtually connect with them. Then, the doctor and virtual team can work together to create an effective treatment plan.
Other Telehealth Solutions
Ultrasounds have been important in telehealth solutions. But many others have been helpful as well. Doctors have been widely using telecardiology in many different medical settings.
Telecardiology works with cardiologists to provide virtual care for patients with cardiac problems. Then, patients can have remote visits with their cardiologist from the comfort of home.
These services use video calls, electronic medical records, and digital medical imaging. Video calls can happen either in a doctor’s office through their computer, or from the patient’s home on a personal device.
Virtual communication also allows doctors to collaborate, making sure everyone is on the same page. They can give each other ideas and suggestions for the patient’s treatment plan.
Ultrasound interpretations can crucial to telecardiology services as well. Echocardiograms are most common in cardiology since they can help detect cardiac disease.
Who Can Benefit from Telehealth Services?
We work to support rural hospitals, clinics, primary healthcare centers, and more. We understand that resources can be limited. Not everyone has radiologists or other experts available to help interpret ultrasounds.
With teleradiology, healthcare facilities with limited resources can improve their care quality. From rural healthcare centers to primary care offices, these services can easily reach anyone at any time.
Studies in resource-limited healthcare have shown the great benefits of telemedicine for ultrasounds. They tell us that virtual interpretations are of great quality. They can be a helpful tool in diagnosing patients and creating treatment plans.
Benefits of Telehealth Services
Telehealth services can greatly improve patient outcomes. There are many emergencies where a patient needs immediate assessment.
In many rural areas, though, patients may not be close to an emergency room or have access to one. Doctors in the area also may not have emergency specialists on staff.
Having access to on-call specialists can give your patients the immediate assessment they may need.
Ultrasounds can help determine the severity of injuries and exact sites of trauma in emergency cases. Once the radiologist helps to determine these factors, they can work with the patient to come up with a treatment plan.
Sometimes they will need to go to a higher level of care, but other times they can follow a treatment plan from home. This is all helpful insight that maybe you would not be able to provide otherwise.
Another great benefit is that telehealth can help cut costs in healthcare facilities. At smaller facilities, it is unreasonable to hire a full-time radiologist or cardiologist.
With virtual healthcare, the costs are significantly decreased. This way, you are only paying specialists for minimal employment.
With lower costs and more efficient care, patients are likely to be more satisfied with their care. Satisfied patients mean higher hospital or clinic ratings.
Patients have reported a better overall experience and understanding of their condition. A great way to get this information for your facility is through patient surveys.
Getting feedback from patients can help the future of your practice. You’ll know exactly where to improve and understand how to best support your patients.
The Future of Telehealth
Regardless of the solution you may need to use in your practice, telehealth can be a helpful tool.
By being confident with your information, patients will feel more comfortable too.
Now is the time to start using ultrasound interpretations in your telehealth practice. It can transform the care that your patients receive.
As always, we’re here to help. Visit our page today to learn more about ultrasounds and other helpful solutions.