The healthcare system is under pressure: The number of patients is increasing, while staff is lacking. This is a development that calls for new ways of working. Simultaneously, technological development appears to only accelerate. New telemedicine solutions are emerging, and they offer unprecedented opportunities for both healthcare professionals and their patients. This article explores the expanding potential of telemedicine, its applications across various healthcare sectors, and the barriers that must be overcome to fully realize its benefits.

Telemedicine vs telehealth – what is the difference?

The terms telemedicine and telehealth are sometimes used interchangeably but are not the same. We agree with this distinguishment: Telehealth is a variety of remote healthcare services, e.g. telemedicine, but also health education and support provided by nurses, physicians or social workers. We define telemedicine as the application of communication technologies to facilitate remote diagnosis, treatment or monitoring of patients. In practical terms, telemedicine has largely been equated with a video call. However, the great potential of telemedicine is found in solutions that combine video with remote clinical examinations.

What is driving the need and development of telemedicine?

Telemedicine is not a new concept, but it seems to attract only more attention and become increasingly important on the healthcare agenda. We believe there are two main market factors driving the popularity of telemedicine: A set of demographic challenges and technological opportunities.

Demography
We are getting old. As the medical field advances, people are living longer, which is not immediately a bad thing. However, elderly people are also more frequent visitors at the hospital and other medical facilities. At the same time, fewer children are born, fewer are choosing a care job, and many healthcare facilities are experiencing staff shortage. So, there is an increasing number of people in need of care and medical treatment, but there is a decreasing number of people available to take care of the population in need. That puts pressure on the healthcare system.

Adding to this challenge is that elderly people tend to be less mobile and might require assistance for transportation from relatives or healthcare personnel. Moreover, with centralization of healthcare services, e.g. in Denmark, staff shortage is more critical in rural areas. Consequently, the aging population may have little or no access to nearby healthcare services and need to be transported larger distances for treatment.

Technology
AI, IoT, VR, AR – the list of much hyped acronyms goes on and on. Exciting new startups as well as established manufacturers are incorporating more and more of these rapidly evolving technologies into their healthcare solutions. There is a variety of solutions in the market including; AI that can analyze all sorts of data, be it text, image or sound, to help diagnose patients and support clinical decision making; AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) for surgery, pain management and simulation training; and IoT (internet of things) devices that can be used for remote measuring and monitoring of patients’ health at home.

The market for consumer products is also interesting when considering technology from a telemedicine perspective: The market for wearable health technologies is growing. The smart devices and fitness trackers that many people own continuously get new features for health monitoring. What is particularly beneficial about these technologies is that the user does not need to be taught how to collect data – that is done automatically.

The demographic challenges combined with emerging new technologies create a great opportunity for the healthcare sector.

Where and how can telemedicine be applied?

There are a variety of applications and areas in the healthcare sector that can benefit from telemedicine solutions. Below we introduce three examples.

Prehospital care
Applying telemedicine in prehospital care has the potential to offer more timely care for patients, provide clinicians with better medical support and reduce the number of emergency department (ED) admissions.

Telemedicine can enhance prehospital care by equipping emergency medical personnel with advanced diagnostic tools and real-time communication capabilities. For instance, paramedics can use portable devices to perform thorough assessments of patients at the scene. Some devices can measure vital signs, perform ECGs, and even conduct ultrasound scans. With a live connection to a hospital, paramedics can consult with doctors or specialists in real-time, ensuring that patients receive the most accurate and timely care possible. This approach can help avoid unnecessary hospitalizations by providing immediate expert evaluation and treatment decisions on-site.

Telemedicine can also facilitate better triage, ensuring that patients who need urgent care are prioritized and those with less critical conditions are managed appropriately. In addition, a study shows that telemedicine in acute care can also improve the service and achieve a high level of patient satisfaction.

 

An example of telemedicine for prehospital use, which we distribute at Medidyne, is ZOLL’s RescueNet software. The portfolio counts RescueNet Live, which live streams data gathered by your defibrillator. This enables the doctor at the hospital to monitor the patient’s condition outside the hospital and gain valuable insight that supports decision-making.

Medical practices
In medical practices, telemedicine can transform the way general practitioners (GPs) and specialists interact with patients. Beyond simple video consultations, telemedicine platforms can integrate various diagnostic tools that allow doctors to conduct comprehensive physical exams remotely. For example, a GP can use digital stethoscopes to listen to a patient’s heart and lungs, otoscopes to examine ears, and high-resolution cameras to inspect skin conditions. These tools enable doctors to make accurate diagnoses and provide effective treatment plans without the patient needing to visit the clinic. In addition, telemedicine can streamline follow-up appointments, chronic disease management, and routine check-ups. Ultimately, patients might be able to spare physical visits to the doctor, and the time and effort it entails.

This is particularly beneficial for patients with mobility issues, those living in remote areas, or during situations where in-person visits are challenging. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine visits were rapidly adopted by physicians. A study based on interviews with some of these physicians found that telemedicine changed the interaction with patients, but that it also offered opportunities for improving care. That included more time for counselling, better medication reconciliation, evaluation of home environment and connecting with patient families.

 

An example of telemedicine that benefits the GP among others is the TytoCare platform, which Medidyne distributes in Denmark. It enables doctors to perform remote physical exams of patients anytime, anywhere. In a study, the platform outperformed stand-alone digital stethoscope and otoscope, as it better provided usable data to support a clinical encounter. Another study with TytoCare showed that incorporating a remote medical device may reduce follow-up visits, referrals and laboratory tests compared to a video visit without a device.

A different telemedicine solution, which Medidyne distributes across the Nordics, is WatchPAT from ZOLL Itamar. WatchPAT is a user-friendly and reliable home sleep apnea test. The technology is very accurate and clinically validated. It has a variety of telemedicine capabilities that make it a great help for the medical practices, ENT doctors and sleep clinics who encounter patients suspected of suffering from sleep apnea.

 

Elderly care, chronic care and patient monitoring
Being able to stay at home is a big advantage, if you are less mobile or have a chronic condition that requires frequent medical attention. Therefore, telemedicine offers substantial benefits for elderly care, chronic care, and patient monitoring.

For elderly patients, especially those with limited mobility or residing in rural areas, telemedicine can provide a lifeline to continuous medical support without the need for frequent travel. A study also suggests that telemedicine can lead to positive experiences and high satisfaction for older adults. Another study with older adults found that a hybrid approach, with physical and virtual services, may be the optimal solution in case there are concerns about the lack of physical exams and potential miscommunication.

Remote monitoring devices can track vital signs, medication adherence, and other health metrics, sending data directly to healthcare providers. This allows for early detection of potential health issues and timely interventions. For patients with chronic conditions telemedicine facilitates regular monitoring and management, which can help reduce the risk of complications and hospital admissions. A study has found that telemedicine had a positive effect on the management of diabetes, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Another big advantage for this group of patients is that telemedicine platforms can support virtual consultations with specialists. This helps ensure that the patients receive comprehensive care tailored to their specific needs.

An example of a telemedicine solution for chronic care and monitoring distributed by Medidyne is Philips’ Care Orchestrator platform. It is a cloud-based solution that gives clinicians remote access to monitor and adjust the treatment of sleep apnea patients and patients with a home ventilator. The platform helps clinicians provide targeted and effective care through overview and streamlined workflows.

What are the barriers?

Technology is available and developing fast, and as mentioned above, we could really use it. What might be getting in the way and slowing down the implementation of telemedicine technology in healthcare?

People and organizations have different levels of technological readiness that always need to be considered when implementing new technology. When it comes to telemedicine, this barrier might be big as the solutions are rarely simple add-ons to the existing technology: They often bring a new way of working, which requires changes to processes and IT platforms. A study concerned with the use of telemedicine in India during the COVID-19 pandemic also points towards insufficient technological infrastructure as a barrier challenging the success of implementation. The challenge of changing IT setup and ways of working only becomes harder to overcome in a busy everyday with staff shortage. Plus, if the telemedicine solution in question is a virtual care platform, you often need dedicated personnel.

Implementing new devices always requires preparation ahead of usage. Read more about that in our article about successful medical device implementation.

What is the potential?

When the barriers are overcome telemedicine holds great potential for all stakeholders, be they users of the solutions or the healthcare system in general. It really is a win-win-win situation for personnel, patients and society.

Personnel
With telemedicine at hand, healthcare professionals can examine, diagnose, treat, monitor or in other ways care for patients in remote locations. This is very effective, as the staff does not spend time on transportation. In addition, being free from time and place makes it significantly easier to involve specialists in the process, who might otherwise have long waitlists for physical appointments. This is backed by a study of professional users’ perceptions of telemedicine in Italy. It found that the users perceived telemedicine useful for improving patient care. Though they did not believe it to be better and a substitute for in-person visits, benefits noted included bringing down waitlists, reducing ED attendance, decreasing travel for patients and clinicians, and more frequent patient-doctor interactions.

Another benefit relating to time is the telemedicine solutions that allow for both live use and asynchronous use. When used asynchronously the patient or caregiver collects data, and a doctor or specialist reviews the data at a different time and decides how to proceed with the care. This adds flexibility and allows for a more effective way of working. Plus, a telemedicine solution will often gather and present data in a user-friendly way that provides overview and insight. This can also help staff work more effectively by streamlining workflows.

Patients
Remote care via telemedicine is a great advantage for the patients, who can stay at home and spare the time and energy associated with visiting medical facilities. That advantage is even greater for citizens in rural areas, less mobile citizens, and elderly citizens in care facilities who are typically in need of frequent care and checkups. In addition to saving time, patients simultaneously get more easily accessible and convenient healthcare with telemedicine. For patients who frequently visit the physician or hospital, the ability to stay at home while receiving high-quality medical care might even enhance the quality of life.

Society
If more patients can receive quality care at home, it is a great advantage for the healthcare system. It is more cost-effective to care for patients at home instead of at the hospital. Moreover, with a better use of human resources that ensures resources are spent where they matter most, efficiency is improved. This is very much a need, when there is a staff shortage and increasing healthcare needs in the population.

Conclusion

By leveraging advanced technologies and addressing existing barriers, telemedicine can provide significant benefits, making healthcare more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered. In conclusion, telemedicine represents a transformative shift in healthcare delivery, and the applications introduced demonstrate vast potential: Telemedicine can address some of society’s biggest healthcare challenges, support and empower healthcare professionals, and improve patient care.

The healthcare system is under pressure: The number of patients is increasing, while staff is lacking. This is a development that calls for new ways of working. Simultaneously, technological development appears to only accelerate. New telemedicine solutions are emerging, and they offer unprecedented opportunities for both healthcare professionals and their patients. This article explores the expanding potential of telemedicine, its applications across various healthcare sectors, and the barriers that must be overcome to fully realize its benefits.

Telemedicine vs telehealth – what is the difference?

The terms telemedicine and telehealth are sometimes used interchangeably but are not the same. We agree with this distinguishment: Telehealth is a variety of remote healthcare services, e.g. telemedicine, but also health education and support provided by nurses, physicians or social workers. We define telemedicine as the application of communication technologies to facilitate remote diagnosis, treatment or monitoring of patients. In practical terms, telemedicine has largely been equated with a video call. However, the great potential of telemedicine is found in solutions that combine video with remote clinical examinations.

What is driving the need and development of telemedicine?

Telemedicine is not a new concept, but it seems to attract only more attention and become increasingly important on the healthcare agenda. We believe there are two main market factors driving the popularity of telemedicine: A set of demographic challenges and technological opportunities.

Demography
We are getting old. As the medical field advances, people are living longer, which is not immediately a bad thing. However, elderly people are also more frequent visitors at the hospital and other medical facilities. At the same time, fewer children are born, fewer are choosing a care job, and many healthcare facilities are experiencing staff shortage. So, there is an increasing number of people in need of care and medical treatment, but there is a decreasing number of people available to take care of the population in need. That puts pressure on the healthcare system.

Adding to this challenge is that elderly people tend to be less mobile and might require assistance for transportation from relatives or healthcare personnel. Moreover, with centralization of healthcare services, e.g. in Denmark, staff shortage is more critical in rural areas. Consequently, the aging population may have little or no access to nearby healthcare services and need to be transported larger distances for treatment.

Technology
AI, IoT, VR, AR – the list of much hyped acronyms goes on and on. Exciting new startups as well as established manufacturers are incorporating more and more of these rapidly evolving technologies into their healthcare solutions. There is a variety of solutions in the market including; AI that can analyze all sorts of data, be it text, image or sound, to help diagnose patients and support clinical decision making; AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) for surgery, pain management and simulation training; and IoT (internet of things) devices that can be used for remote measuring and monitoring of patients’ health at home.

The market for consumer products is also interesting when considering technology from a telemedicine perspective: The market for wearable health technologies is growing. The smart devices and fitness trackers that many people own continuously get new features for health monitoring. What is particularly beneficial about these technologies is that the user does not need to be taught how to collect data – that is done automatically.

The demographic challenges combined with emerging new technologies create a great opportunity for the healthcare sector.

Where and how can telemedicine be applied?

There are a variety of applications and areas in the healthcare sector that can benefit from telemedicine solutions. Below we introduce three examples.

Prehospital care
Applying telemedicine in prehospital care has the potential to offer more timely care for patients, provide clinicians with better medical support and reduce the number of emergency department (ED) admissions.

Telemedicine can enhance prehospital care by equipping emergency medical personnel with advanced diagnostic tools and real-time communication capabilities. For instance, paramedics can use portable devices to perform thorough assessments of patients at the scene. Some devices can measure vital signs, perform ECGs, and even conduct ultrasound scans. With a live connection to a hospital, paramedics can consult with doctors or specialists in real-time, ensuring that patients receive the most accurate and timely care possible. This approach can help avoid unnecessary hospitalizations by providing immediate expert evaluation and treatment decisions on-site.

Telemedicine can also facilitate better triage, ensuring that patients who need urgent care are prioritized and those with less critical conditions are managed appropriately. In addition, a study shows that telemedicine in acute care can also improve the service and achieve a high level of patient satisfaction.

 

An example of telemedicine for prehospital use, which we distribute at Medidyne, is ZOLL’s RescueNet software. The portfolio counts RescueNet Live, which live streams data gathered by your defibrillator. This enables the doctor at the hospital to monitor the patient’s condition outside the hospital and gain valuable insight that supports decision-making.

Medical practices
In medical practices, telemedicine can transform the way general practitioners (GPs) and specialists interact with patients. Beyond simple video consultations, telemedicine platforms can integrate various diagnostic tools that allow doctors to conduct comprehensive physical exams remotely. For example, a GP can use digital stethoscopes to listen to a patient’s heart and lungs, otoscopes to examine ears, and high-resolution cameras to inspect skin conditions. These tools enable doctors to make accurate diagnoses and provide effective treatment plans without the patient needing to visit the clinic. In addition, telemedicine can streamline follow-up appointments, chronic disease management, and routine check-ups. Ultimately, patients might be able to spare physical visits to the doctor, and the time and effort it entails.

This is particularly beneficial for patients with mobility issues, those living in remote areas, or during situations where in-person visits are challenging. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine visits were rapidly adopted by physicians. A study based on interviews with some of these physicians found that telemedicine changed the interaction with patients, but that it also offered opportunities for improving care. That included more time for counselling, better medication reconciliation, evaluation of home environment and connecting with patient families.

 

An example of telemedicine that benefits the GP among others is the TytoCare platform, which Medidyne distributes in Denmark. It enables doctors to perform remote physical exams of patients anytime, anywhere. In a study, the platform outperformed stand-alone digital stethoscope and otoscope, as it better provided usable data to support a clinical encounter. Another study with TytoCare showed that incorporating a remote medical device may reduce follow-up visits, referrals and laboratory tests compared to a video visit without a device.

A different telemedicine solution, which Medidyne distributes across the Nordics, is WatchPAT from ZOLL Itamar. WatchPAT is a user-friendly and reliable home sleep apnea test. The technology is very accurate and clinically validated. It has a variety of telemedicine capabilities that make it a great help for the medical practices, ENT doctors and sleep clinics who encounter patients suspected of suffering from sleep apnea.

 

Elderly care, chronic care and patient monitoring
Being able to stay at home is a big advantage, if you are less mobile or have a chronic condition that requires frequent medical attention. Therefore, telemedicine offers substantial benefits for elderly care, chronic care, and patient monitoring.

For elderly patients, especially those with limited mobility or residing in rural areas, telemedicine can provide a lifeline to continuous medical support without the need for frequent travel. A study also suggests that telemedicine can lead to positive experiences and high satisfaction for older adults. Another study with older adults found that a hybrid approach, with physical and virtual services, may be the optimal solution in case there are concerns about the lack of physical exams and potential miscommunication.

Remote monitoring devices can track vital signs, medication adherence, and other health metrics, sending data directly to healthcare providers. This allows for early detection of potential health issues and timely interventions. For patients with chronic conditions telemedicine facilitates regular monitoring and management, which can help reduce the risk of complications and hospital admissions. A study has found that telemedicine had a positive effect on the management of diabetes, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Another big advantage for this group of patients is that telemedicine platforms can support virtual consultations with specialists. This helps ensure that the patients receive comprehensive care tailored to their specific needs.

An example of a telemedicine solution for chronic care and monitoring distributed by Medidyne is Philips’ Care Orchestrator platform. It is a cloud-based solution that gives clinicians remote access to monitor and adjust the treatment of sleep apnea patients and patients with a home ventilator. The platform helps clinicians provide targeted and effective care through overview and streamlined workflows.

What are the barriers?

Technology is available and developing fast, and as mentioned above, we could really use it. What might be getting in the way and slowing down the implementation of telemedicine technology in healthcare?

People and organizations have different levels of technological readiness that always need to be considered when implementing new technology. When it comes to telemedicine, this barrier might be big as the solutions are rarely simple add-ons to the existing technology: They often bring a new way of working, which requires changes to processes and IT platforms. A study concerned with the use of telemedicine in India during the COVID-19 pandemic also points towards insufficient technological infrastructure as a barrier challenging the success of implementation. The challenge of changing IT setup and ways of working only becomes harder to overcome in a busy everyday with staff shortage. Plus, if the telemedicine solution in question is a virtual care platform, you often need dedicated personnel.

Implementing new devices always requires preparation ahead of usage. Read more about that in our article about successful medical device implementation.

What is the potential?

When the barriers are overcome telemedicine holds great potential for all stakeholders, be they users of the solutions or the healthcare system in general. It really is a win-win-win situation for personnel, patients and society.

Personnel
With telemedicine at hand, healthcare professionals can examine, diagnose, treat, monitor or in other ways care for patients in remote locations. This is very effective, as the staff does not spend time on transportation. In addition, being free from time and place makes it significantly easier to involve specialists in the process, who might otherwise have long waitlists for physical appointments. This is backed by a study of professional users’ perceptions of telemedicine in Italy. It found that the users perceived telemedicine useful for improving patient care. Though they did not believe it to be better and a substitute for in-person visits, benefits noted included bringing down waitlists, reducing ED attendance, decreasing travel for patients and clinicians, and more frequent patient-doctor interactions.

Another benefit relating to time is the telemedicine solutions that allow for both live use and asynchronous use. When used asynchronously the patient or caregiver collects data, and a doctor or specialist reviews the data at a different time and decides how to proceed with the care. This adds flexibility and allows for a more effective way of working. Plus, a telemedicine solution will often gather and present data in a user-friendly way that provides overview and insight. This can also help staff work more effectively by streamlining workflows.

Patients
Remote care via telemedicine is a great advantage for the patients, who can stay at home and spare the time and energy associated with visiting medical facilities. That advantage is even greater for citizens in rural areas, less mobile citizens, and elderly citizens in care facilities who are typically in need of frequent care and checkups. In addition to saving time, patients simultaneously get more easily accessible and convenient healthcare with telemedicine. For patients who frequently visit the physician or hospital, the ability to stay at home while receiving high-quality medical care might even enhance the quality of life.

Society
If more patients can receive quality care at home, it is a great advantage for the healthcare system. It is more cost-effective to care for patients at home instead of at the hospital. Moreover, with a better use of human resources that ensures resources are spent where they matter most, efficiency is improved. This is very much a need, when there is a staff shortage and increasing healthcare needs in the population.

Conclusion

By leveraging advanced technologies and addressing existing barriers, telemedicine can provide significant benefits, making healthcare more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered. In conclusion, telemedicine represents a transformative shift in healthcare delivery, and the applications introduced demonstrate vast potential: Telemedicine can address some of society’s biggest healthcare challenges, support and empower healthcare professionals, and improve patient care.

The healthcare system is under pressure: The number of patients is increasing, while staff is lacking. This is a development that calls for new ways of working. Simultaneously, technological development appears to only accelerate. New telemedicine solutions are emerging, and they offer unprecedented opportunities for both healthcare professionals and their patients. This article explores the expanding potential of telemedicine, its applications across various healthcare sectors, and the barriers that must be overcome to fully realize its benefits.

Telemedicine vs telehealth – what is the difference?

The terms telemedicine and telehealth are sometimes used interchangeably but are not the same. We agree with this distinguishment: Telehealth is a variety of remote healthcare services, e.g. telemedicine, but also health education and support provided by nurses, physicians or social workers. We define telemedicine as the application of communication technologies to facilitate remote diagnosis, treatment or monitoring of patients. In practical terms, telemedicine has largely been equated with a video call. However, the great potential of telemedicine is found in solutions that combine video with remote clinical examinations.

What is driving the need and development of telemedicine?

Telemedicine is not a new concept, but it seems to attract only more attention and become increasingly important on the healthcare agenda. We believe there are two main market factors driving the popularity of telemedicine: A set of demographic challenges and technological opportunities.

Demography
We are getting old. As the medical field advances, people are living longer, which is not immediately a bad thing. However, elderly people are also more frequent visitors at the hospital and other medical facilities. At the same time, fewer children are born, fewer are choosing a care job, and many healthcare facilities are experiencing staff shortage. So, there is an increasing number of people in need of care and medical treatment, but there is a decreasing number of people available to take care of the population in need. That puts pressure on the healthcare system.

Adding to this challenge is that elderly people tend to be less mobile and might require assistance for transportation from relatives or healthcare personnel. Moreover, with centralization of healthcare services, e.g. in Denmark, staff shortage is more critical in rural areas. Consequently, the aging population may have little or no access to nearby healthcare services and need to be transported larger distances for treatment.

Technology
AI, IoT, VR, AR – the list of much hyped acronyms goes on and on. Exciting new startups as well as established manufacturers are incorporating more and more of these rapidly evolving technologies into their healthcare solutions. There is a variety of solutions in the market including; AI that can analyze all sorts of data, be it text, image or sound, to help diagnose patients and support clinical decision making; AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) for surgery, pain management and simulation training; and IoT (internet of things) devices that can be used for remote measuring and monitoring of patients’ health at home.

The market for consumer products is also interesting when considering technology from a telemedicine perspective: The market for wearable health technologies is growing. The smart devices and fitness trackers that many people own continuously get new features for health monitoring. What is particularly beneficial about these technologies is that the user does not need to be taught how to collect data – that is done automatically.

The demographic challenges combined with emerging new technologies create a great opportunity for the healthcare sector.

Where and how can telemedicine be applied?

There are a variety of applications and areas in the healthcare sector that can benefit from telemedicine solutions. Below we introduce three examples.

Prehospital care
Applying telemedicine in prehospital care has the potential to offer more timely care for patients, provide clinicians with better medical support and reduce the number of emergency department (ED) admissions.

Telemedicine can enhance prehospital care by equipping emergency medical personnel with advanced diagnostic tools and real-time communication capabilities. For instance, paramedics can use portable devices to perform thorough assessments of patients at the scene. Some devices can measure vital signs, perform ECGs, and even conduct ultrasound scans. With a live connection to a hospital, paramedics can consult with doctors or specialists in real-time, ensuring that patients receive the most accurate and timely care possible. This approach can help avoid unnecessary hospitalizations by providing immediate expert evaluation and treatment decisions on-site.

Telemedicine can also facilitate better triage, ensuring that patients who need urgent care are prioritized and those with less critical conditions are managed appropriately. In addition, a study shows that telemedicine in acute care can also improve the service and achieve a high level of patient satisfaction.

 

An example of telemedicine for prehospital use, which we distribute at Medidyne, is ZOLL’s RescueNet software. The portfolio counts RescueNet Live, which live streams data gathered by your defibrillator. This enables the doctor at the hospital to monitor the patient’s condition outside the hospital and gain valuable insight that supports decision-making.

Medical practices
In medical practices, telemedicine can transform the way general practitioners (GPs) and specialists interact with patients. Beyond simple video consultations, telemedicine platforms can integrate various diagnostic tools that allow doctors to conduct comprehensive physical exams remotely. For example, a GP can use digital stethoscopes to listen to a patient’s heart and lungs, otoscopes to examine ears, and high-resolution cameras to inspect skin conditions. These tools enable doctors to make accurate diagnoses and provide effective treatment plans without the patient needing to visit the clinic. In addition, telemedicine can streamline follow-up appointments, chronic disease management, and routine check-ups. Ultimately, patients might be able to spare physical visits to the doctor, and the time and effort it entails.

This is particularly beneficial for patients with mobility issues, those living in remote areas, or during situations where in-person visits are challenging. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine visits were rapidly adopted by physicians. A study based on interviews with some of these physicians found that telemedicine changed the interaction with patients, but that it also offered opportunities for improving care. That included more time for counselling, better medication reconciliation, evaluation of home environment and connecting with patient families.

 

An example of telemedicine that benefits the GP among others is the TytoCare platform, which Medidyne distributes in Denmark. It enables doctors to perform remote physical exams of patients anytime, anywhere. In a study, the platform outperformed stand-alone digital stethoscope and otoscope, as it better provided usable data to support a clinical encounter. Another study with TytoCare showed that incorporating a remote medical device may reduce follow-up visits, referrals and laboratory tests compared to a video visit without a device.

A different telemedicine solution, which Medidyne distributes across the Nordics, is WatchPAT from ZOLL Itamar. WatchPAT is a user-friendly and reliable home sleep apnea test. The technology is very accurate and clinically validated. It has a variety of telemedicine capabilities that make it a great help for the medical practices, ENT doctors and sleep clinics who encounter patients suspected of suffering from sleep apnea.

 

Elderly care, chronic care and patient monitoring
Being able to stay at home is a big advantage, if you are less mobile or have a chronic condition that requires frequent medical attention. Therefore, telemedicine offers substantial benefits for elderly care, chronic care, and patient monitoring.

For elderly patients, especially those with limited mobility or residing in rural areas, telemedicine can provide a lifeline to continuous medical support without the need for frequent travel. A study also suggests that telemedicine can lead to positive experiences and high satisfaction for older adults. Another study with older adults found that a hybrid approach, with physical and virtual services, may be the optimal solution in case there are concerns about the lack of physical exams and potential miscommunication.

Remote monitoring devices can track vital signs, medication adherence, and other health metrics, sending data directly to healthcare providers. This allows for early detection of potential health issues and timely interventions. For patients with chronic conditions telemedicine facilitates regular monitoring and management, which can help reduce the risk of complications and hospital admissions. A study has found that telemedicine had a positive effect on the management of diabetes, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Another big advantage for this group of patients is that telemedicine platforms can support virtual consultations with specialists. This helps ensure that the patients receive comprehensive care tailored to their specific needs.

An example of a telemedicine solution for chronic care and monitoring distributed by Medidyne is Philips’ Care Orchestrator platform. It is a cloud-based solution that gives clinicians remote access to monitor and adjust the treatment of sleep apnea patients and patients with a home ventilator. The platform helps clinicians provide targeted and effective care through overview and streamlined workflows.

What are the barriers?

Technology is available and developing fast, and as mentioned above, we could really use it. What might be getting in the way and slowing down the implementation of telemedicine technology in healthcare?

People and organizations have different levels of technological readiness that always need to be considered when implementing new technology. When it comes to telemedicine, this barrier might be big as the solutions are rarely simple add-ons to the existing technology: They often bring a new way of working, which requires changes to processes and IT platforms. A study concerned with the use of telemedicine in India during the COVID-19 pandemic also points towards insufficient technological infrastructure as a barrier challenging the success of implementation. The challenge of changing IT setup and ways of working only becomes harder to overcome in a busy everyday with staff shortage. Plus, if the telemedicine solution in question is a virtual care platform, you often need dedicated personnel.

Implementing new devices always requires preparation ahead of usage. Read more about that in our article about successful medical device implementation.

What is the potential?

When the barriers are overcome telemedicine holds great potential for all stakeholders, be they users of the solutions or the healthcare system in general. It really is a win-win-win situation for personnel, patients and society.

Personnel
With telemedicine at hand, healthcare professionals can examine, diagnose, treat, monitor or in other ways care for patients in remote locations. This is very effective, as the staff does not spend time on transportation. In addition, being free from time and place makes it significantly easier to involve specialists in the process, who might otherwise have long waitlists for physical appointments. This is backed by a study of professional users’ perceptions of telemedicine in Italy. It found that the users perceived telemedicine useful for improving patient care. Though they did not believe it to be better and a substitute for in-person visits, benefits noted included bringing down waitlists, reducing ED attendance, decreasing travel for patients and clinicians, and more frequent patient-doctor interactions.

Another benefit relating to time is the telemedicine solutions that allow for both live use and asynchronous use. When used asynchronously the patient or caregiver collects data, and a doctor or specialist reviews the data at a different time and decides how to proceed with the care. This adds flexibility and allows for a more effective way of working. Plus, a telemedicine solution will often gather and present data in a user-friendly way that provides overview and insight. This can also help staff work more effectively by streamlining workflows.

Patients
Remote care via telemedicine is a great advantage for the patients, who can stay at home and spare the time and energy associated with visiting medical facilities. That advantage is even greater for citizens in rural areas, less mobile citizens, and elderly citizens in care facilities who are typically in need of frequent care and checkups. In addition to saving time, patients simultaneously get more easily accessible and convenient healthcare with telemedicine. For patients who frequently visit the physician or hospital, the ability to stay at home while receiving high-quality medical care might even enhance the quality of life.

Society
If more patients can receive quality care at home, it is a great advantage for the healthcare system. It is more cost-effective to care for patients at home instead of at the hospital. Moreover, with a better use of human resources that ensures resources are spent where they matter most, efficiency is improved. This is very much a need, when there is a staff shortage and increasing healthcare needs in the population.

Conclusion

By leveraging advanced technologies and addressing existing barriers, telemedicine can provide significant benefits, making healthcare more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered. In conclusion, telemedicine represents a transformative shift in healthcare delivery, and the applications introduced demonstrate vast potential: Telemedicine can address some of society’s biggest healthcare challenges, support and empower healthcare professionals, and improve patient care.

The healthcare system is under pressure: The number of patients is increasing, while staff is lacking. This is a development that calls for new ways of working. Simultaneously, technological development appears to only accelerate. New telemedicine solutions are emerging, and they offer unprecedented opportunities for both healthcare professionals and their patients. This article explores the expanding potential of telemedicine, its applications across various healthcare sectors, and the barriers that must be overcome to fully realize its benefits.

Telemedicine vs telehealth – what is the difference?

The terms telemedicine and telehealth are sometimes used interchangeably but are not the same. We agree with this distinguishment: Telehealth is a variety of remote healthcare services, e.g. telemedicine, but also health education and support provided by nurses, physicians or social workers. We define telemedicine as the application of communication technologies to facilitate remote diagnosis, treatment or monitoring of patients. In practical terms, telemedicine has largely been equated with a video call. However, the great potential of telemedicine is found in solutions that combine video with remote clinical examinations.

What is driving the need and development of telemedicine?

Telemedicine is not a new concept, but it seems to attract only more attention and become increasingly important on the healthcare agenda. We believe there are two main market factors driving the popularity of telemedicine: A set of demographic challenges and technological opportunities.

Demography
We are getting old. As the medical field advances, people are living longer, which is not immediately a bad thing. However, elderly people are also more frequent visitors at the hospital and other medical facilities. At the same time, fewer children are born, fewer are choosing a care job, and many healthcare facilities are experiencing staff shortage. So, there is an increasing number of people in need of care and medical treatment, but there is a decreasing number of people available to take care of the population in need. That puts pressure on the healthcare system.

Adding to this challenge is that elderly people tend to be less mobile and might require assistance for transportation from relatives or healthcare personnel. Moreover, with centralization of healthcare services, e.g. in Denmark, staff shortage is more critical in rural areas. Consequently, the aging population may have little or no access to nearby healthcare services and need to be transported larger distances for treatment.

Technology
AI, IoT, VR, AR – the list of much hyped acronyms goes on and on. Exciting new startups as well as established manufacturers are incorporating more and more of these rapidly evolving technologies into their healthcare solutions. There is a variety of solutions in the market including; AI that can analyze all sorts of data, be it text, image or sound, to help diagnose patients and support clinical decision making; AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) for surgery, pain management and simulation training; and IoT (internet of things) devices that can be used for remote measuring and monitoring of patients’ health at home.

The market for consumer products is also interesting when considering technology from a telemedicine perspective: The market for wearable health technologies is growing. The smart devices and fitness trackers that many people own continuously get new features for health monitoring. What is particularly beneficial about these technologies is that the user does not need to be taught how to collect data – that is done automatically.

The demographic challenges combined with emerging new technologies create a great opportunity for the healthcare sector.

Where and how can telemedicine be applied?

There are a variety of applications and areas in the healthcare sector that can benefit from telemedicine solutions. Below we introduce three examples.

Prehospital care
Applying telemedicine in prehospital care has the potential to offer more timely care for patients, provide clinicians with better medical support and reduce the number of emergency department (ED) admissions.

Telemedicine can enhance prehospital care by equipping emergency medical personnel with advanced diagnostic tools and real-time communication capabilities. For instance, paramedics can use portable devices to perform thorough assessments of patients at the scene. Some devices can measure vital signs, perform ECGs, and even conduct ultrasound scans. With a live connection to a hospital, paramedics can consult with doctors or specialists in real-time, ensuring that patients receive the most accurate and timely care possible. This approach can help avoid unnecessary hospitalizations by providing immediate expert evaluation and treatment decisions on-site.

Telemedicine can also facilitate better triage, ensuring that patients who need urgent care are prioritized and those with less critical conditions are managed appropriately. In addition, a study shows that telemedicine in acute care can also improve the service and achieve a high level of patient satisfaction.

 

An example of telemedicine for prehospital use, which we distribute at Medidyne, is ZOLL’s RescueNet software. The portfolio counts RescueNet Live, which live streams data gathered by your defibrillator. This enables the doctor at the hospital to monitor the patient’s condition outside the hospital and gain valuable insight that supports decision-making.

Medical practices
In medical practices, telemedicine can transform the way general practitioners (GPs) and specialists interact with patients. Beyond simple video consultations, telemedicine platforms can integrate various diagnostic tools that allow doctors to conduct comprehensive physical exams remotely. For example, a GP can use digital stethoscopes to listen to a patient’s heart and lungs, otoscopes to examine ears, and high-resolution cameras to inspect skin conditions. These tools enable doctors to make accurate diagnoses and provide effective treatment plans without the patient needing to visit the clinic. In addition, telemedicine can streamline follow-up appointments, chronic disease management, and routine check-ups. Ultimately, patients might be able to spare physical visits to the doctor, and the time and effort it entails.

This is particularly beneficial for patients with mobility issues, those living in remote areas, or during situations where in-person visits are challenging. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine visits were rapidly adopted by physicians. A study based on interviews with some of these physicians found that telemedicine changed the interaction with patients, but that it also offered opportunities for improving care. That included more time for counselling, better medication reconciliation, evaluation of home environment and connecting with patient families.

 

An example of telemedicine that benefits the GP among others is the TytoCare platform, which Medidyne distributes in Denmark. It enables doctors to perform remote physical exams of patients anytime, anywhere. In a study, the platform outperformed stand-alone digital stethoscope and otoscope, as it better provided usable data to support a clinical encounter. Another study with TytoCare showed that incorporating a remote medical device may reduce follow-up visits, referrals and laboratory tests compared to a video visit without a device.

A different telemedicine solution, which Medidyne distributes across the Nordics, is WatchPAT from ZOLL Itamar. WatchPAT is a user-friendly and reliable home sleep apnea test. The technology is very accurate and clinically validated. It has a variety of telemedicine capabilities that make it a great help for the medical practices, ENT doctors and sleep clinics who encounter patients suspected of suffering from sleep apnea.

 

Elderly care, chronic care and patient monitoring
Being able to stay at home is a big advantage, if you are less mobile or have a chronic condition that requires frequent medical attention. Therefore, telemedicine offers substantial benefits for elderly care, chronic care, and patient monitoring.

For elderly patients, especially those with limited mobility or residing in rural areas, telemedicine can provide a lifeline to continuous medical support without the need for frequent travel. A study also suggests that telemedicine can lead to positive experiences and high satisfaction for older adults. Another study with older adults found that a hybrid approach, with physical and virtual services, may be the optimal solution in case there are concerns about the lack of physical exams and potential miscommunication.

Remote monitoring devices can track vital signs, medication adherence, and other health metrics, sending data directly to healthcare providers. This allows for early detection of potential health issues and timely interventions. For patients with chronic conditions telemedicine facilitates regular monitoring and management, which can help reduce the risk of complications and hospital admissions. A study has found that telemedicine had a positive effect on the management of diabetes, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Another big advantage for this group of patients is that telemedicine platforms can support virtual consultations with specialists. This helps ensure that the patients receive comprehensive care tailored to their specific needs.

An example of a telemedicine solution for chronic care and monitoring distributed by Medidyne is Philips’ Care Orchestrator platform. It is a cloud-based solution that gives clinicians remote access to monitor and adjust the treatment of sleep apnea patients and patients with a home ventilator. The platform helps clinicians provide targeted and effective care through overview and streamlined workflows.

What are the barriers?

Technology is available and developing fast, and as mentioned above, we could really use it. What might be getting in the way and slowing down the implementation of telemedicine technology in healthcare?

People and organizations have different levels of technological readiness that always need to be considered when implementing new technology. When it comes to telemedicine, this barrier might be big as the solutions are rarely simple add-ons to the existing technology: They often bring a new way of working, which requires changes to processes and IT platforms. A study concerned with the use of telemedicine in India during the COVID-19 pandemic also points towards insufficient technological infrastructure as a barrier challenging the success of implementation. The challenge of changing IT setup and ways of working only becomes harder to overcome in a busy everyday with staff shortage. Plus, if the telemedicine solution in question is a virtual care platform, you often need dedicated personnel.

Implementing new devices always requires preparation ahead of usage. Read more about that in our article about successful medical device implementation.

What is the potential?

When the barriers are overcome telemedicine holds great potential for all stakeholders, be they users of the solutions or the healthcare system in general. It really is a win-win-win situation for personnel, patients and society.

Personnel
With telemedicine at hand, healthcare professionals can examine, diagnose, treat, monitor or in other ways care for patients in remote locations. This is very effective, as the staff does not spend time on transportation. In addition, being free from time and place makes it significantly easier to involve specialists in the process, who might otherwise have long waitlists for physical appointments. This is backed by a study of professional users’ perceptions of telemedicine in Italy. It found that the users perceived telemedicine useful for improving patient care. Though they did not believe it to be better and a substitute for in-person visits, benefits noted included bringing down waitlists, reducing ED attendance, decreasing travel for patients and clinicians, and more frequent patient-doctor interactions.

Another benefit relating to time is the telemedicine solutions that allow for both live use and asynchronous use. When used asynchronously the patient or caregiver collects data, and a doctor or specialist reviews the data at a different time and decides how to proceed with the care. This adds flexibility and allows for a more effective way of working. Plus, a telemedicine solution will often gather and present data in a user-friendly way that provides overview and insight. This can also help staff work more effectively by streamlining workflows.

Patients
Remote care via telemedicine is a great advantage for the patients, who can stay at home and spare the time and energy associated with visiting medical facilities. That advantage is even greater for citizens in rural areas, less mobile citizens, and elderly citizens in care facilities who are typically in need of frequent care and checkups. In addition to saving time, patients simultaneously get more easily accessible and convenient healthcare with telemedicine. For patients who frequently visit the physician or hospital, the ability to stay at home while receiving high-quality medical care might even enhance the quality of life.

Society
If more patients can receive quality care at home, it is a great advantage for the healthcare system. It is more cost-effective to care for patients at home instead of at the hospital. Moreover, with a better use of human resources that ensures resources are spent where they matter most, efficiency is improved. This is very much a need, when there is a staff shortage and increasing healthcare needs in the population.

Conclusion

By leveraging advanced technologies and addressing existing barriers, telemedicine can provide significant benefits, making healthcare more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered. In conclusion, telemedicine represents a transformative shift in healthcare delivery, and the applications introduced demonstrate vast potential: Telemedicine can address some of society’s biggest healthcare challenges, support and empower healthcare professionals, and improve patient care.