A new study shows that a neurologist in an office thousands of miles away can deliver effective specialized care to people with Parkinson’s disease.
For individuals with the condition – many of whom have never seen a specialist – these “virtual house calls” could allow them to live independently while effectively managing the symptoms of the disease.
“The idea that we can provide care to individuals with Parkinson’s disease regardless of where they live is both a simple and revolutionary concept,” said University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) neurologist Ray Dorsey, M.D., M.B.A., senior author of the study which appears today in the journal Neurology: Clinical Practice. “This study demonstrates that, by employing essentially the same technology that grandparents use to talk to their grandchildren, we can expand access to the specialized care that we know will improve patients’ quality of life and health.”
The study was supported by the Verizon Foundation, Medtronic, and the patient networking website PatientsLikeMe.
“Dr. Dorsey’s work with Parkinson’s disease patients exemplifies the type of forward-thinking, technology-driven innovation that the Verizon Foundation seeks to support,” said Anthony A. Lewis, Verizon’s mid-Atlantic region vice president of state government affairs. “Technology can equalize access to quality health care and bring much-needed services to chronically ill patients who may not otherwise receive such care because of geographic or financial reasons.”
More than 40 percent of people with Parkinson’s disease do not see a neurologist, placing these individuals at greater risk for poor health outcomes. For example, people with the disease who do not see a specialist are 20 percent more likely to fall and fracture a hip, 20 percent more likely to end up in a skilled nursing facility, and 20 percent more likely to die.
Geography is often a determining factor in whether a person with Parkinson’s sees a specialist. Neurologists with training in movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease tend to be concentrated in major academic medical centers. Additionally, the nature of the disease – particularly the impact on movement, balance, and coordination – can make a long trip to the doctor’s office unfeasible.
“We have an ample supply of neurologists in the country to take care of people with Parkinson’s, but because of distance, disability, and the distribution of doctors, many patients have a difficult time seeing a specialist,” said Dorsey.
Working with PatientsLikeMe, the study invited individuals with Parkinson’s who lived in the five states where Dorsey is licensed to practice medicine – California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, and New York – to receive one free telemedicine consultation in the comfort of their own home.
The participants downloaded secure web-based video conferencing software developed by California-based Vidyo. The technology, which is akin to Skype, only requires an Internet connected computer and a webcam.
Using this system, Dorsey saw more than 50 people with Parkinson’s disease, ranging from individuals who were getting a third opinion to those that were seeing a neurologist for the very first time. Virtually all of the visits resulted in treatment recommendations, including increasing exercise (86 percent), changes in current medications (63 percent), the addition of new medications (53 percent), and discussions about potential surgical options (10 percent). Patient satisfaction with the telemedicine care exceeded 90 percent.
Parkinson’s disease particularly lends itself to telemedicine because many aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of the disease are “visual” – meaning that the interaction with the doctor primarily consists of observing the patient perform certain tasks such as holding their hands out and walking and listening to the patient’s history.
“James Parkinson wrote the seminal description of the condition in 1817 by watching people walk in the park,” said Dorsey. “This is just a 21st century application of that principal of observation.”
The authors contend that this approach could also be applied to a number of other chronic conditions, from autism to Alzheimer’s disease, from diabetes to congestive heart failure. Collectively, chronic conditions affect over 140 million Americans and are responsible for 84 percent of health care expenditures.
While demonstrably effective, one of the key barriers to the wider adoption of this approach is the fact that Medicare does not pay for telemedicine care provided to people in their homes. Also, out-of-state physicians are barred from providing remote care to patients in many states.
These barriers prevent the potential savings – both in terms of cost and time – that can be realized by care delivered via telemedicine. A previous URMC study showed that not only did telemedicine visits cost less than providing care in a traditional setting such as a clinic or a hospital, but the virtual house calls saved patients an average of more than three hours and 100 miles of travel per visit when factoring in travel to and from the doctor’s office.
The Latest on: Telemedicine
- Dr Chris Pagnani: Bridging Gaps in Mental Health Care With Telemedicineon May 3, 2024 at 1:06 pm
In this interview, Chris Pagnani, MD, PC, shares how telemedicine is transforming mental health care by making psychiatry accessible for patients, especially for those in health care deserts.
- ATA Meeting Showcases Telehealth's Changing Landscapeon May 3, 2024 at 7:30 am
While disruptors are having a hard time figuring out healthcare, health systems and hospitals are embracing telehealth as a standard of care As the American Telemedicine Association gathers next week ...
- Telemedicine is the practical way aheadon May 3, 2024 at 2:02 am
IN the face of a crumbling public-sector healthcare delivery system, and seriously exorbitant cost of private-sector facilities, the option of telemedicine seems to be a practical way out for many in ...
- USDA grants funding to local provider for telemedicine, healthcareon May 2, 2024 at 8:31 am
The U.S Department of Agriculture has granted Trinity Family Health Inc. $76,000 in funding. The funding has been marked to be used for telemedicine, which helps for rural individuals more easily ...
- Avel eCare Acquires Hospitalist Telemedicine Provider 'Horizon Virtual'on May 2, 2024 at 2:00 am
Latest acquisition further advances Avel's leadership in telemedicine by enhancing its ability to support hospitals and health systems nationwide with its acute inpatient model SIOUX FALLS, S.D., May ...
- Access to remote learning, telemedicine during extreme weather events ending for millionson May 1, 2024 at 5:05 pm
A federal program designed to provide internet access to low-income households is set to run out of funding during May, meaning millions of people could have to adapt to life without having online ...
- Owner of telemedicine firms pleads guilty for role in $1B Medicare scamon April 30, 2024 at 9:31 am
The owner of two telemedicine companies has pleaded guilty in San Antonio to bribery-related charges for his role in a $1.2 billion Medicare scam involving medical equipment. Christopher O'Hara, 59, ...
- How Telemedicine Technologies Are Used In Emergency Scenarios, Including Remote Diagnostics And Consultationson April 29, 2024 at 2:38 am
Introduction: In recent years, telemedicine has transformed from a futuristic concept into a critical component of modern healthcare, especially in emergency medical services. The ability to deliver ...
- Surprise! Telehealth Doesn't Increase Overall Utilization and Cost As Much as We Thoughton April 25, 2024 at 10:09 am
"Given concerns that telemedicine's convenience will lead to more visits, the relatively small increase in visits that we observed was somewhat surprising." While telemedicine use has fallen, rates ...
- How Telemedicine Has Impacted Medicare Utilization, Spending, and Quality of Careon April 25, 2024 at 8:20 am
Researchers addressed the impact of long-term coverage of telemedicine, following concerns that it will increase spending and hurt health care quality.
via Bing News
The Latest on: Virtual house calls
- Cross Country Healthcare to Attend Benchmark’s Healthcare House Call Investor Conferenceon May 3, 2024 at 5:15 pm
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CCRN) announced today that it is scheduled to participate in Benchmark’s Healthcare House Call ...
- Virtual first is flaming out. A virtual-second model can refresh telehealthon May 2, 2024 at 5:00 pm
I propose something I call “virtual second” as one option, though there may be other, and perhaps better, options. Here are the key aspects of a transition to virtual second: Virtual visits with a ...
- A political race card for Kentucky Derby visitors, both real and virtualon May 2, 2024 at 2:21 am
Annual handicapping of Kentucky’s political horses amid the pageantry of the 150th iteration of America’s oldest continuously held sporting event.
- Opinion – Al Cross: A political race card for Derby visitors, real and virtualon May 1, 2024 at 9:29 pm
Welcome, Derby visitors. Here’s our annual handicapping of Kentucky’s political horses amid the pageantry of the 150th iteration of America’s oldest continuously held sporting event. The political ...
- What Is a Virtual Phone Line?on April 30, 2024 at 5:00 pm
A virtual phone number, or direct inward dialing (DID), is a telephone number that is not tied to a specific phone device or line. Also, it allows the user to redirect and route calls from one ...
- How to avoid virtual and in-person business meeting fatigueon April 28, 2024 at 4:03 am
With everyone stuck at home, virtual meeting platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet combined old-school conference calls with video to keep our calendars full. Efficient, easy to do ...
- Columbia University protests: Rep. Elise Stefanik calls on Biden admin to deport terrorist supporters on visason April 24, 2024 at 3:18 am
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik sent a scathing letter to top Biden administration officials Tuesday, demanding the federal government take action against antisemitism.
- How a Virtual Assistant Taught Me to Appreciate Busyworkon April 24, 2024 at 2:02 am
A new category of apps promises to relieve parents of drudgery, with an assist from A.I. But a family’s grunt work is more human, and valuable, than it seems.
- Columbia president makes classes virtual due to ‘intimidating and harassing’ behavior of pro-Palestinian protesterson April 23, 2024 at 4:31 pm
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik announced a shift to virtual classes due to campus unrest following clashes between protesters.
- Dolly Parton’s House: Where She & Her Husband Call Homeon April 22, 2024 at 8:55 am
Interviews and virtual performances from those entertainers ... For some time, Parton lived in a house in West Hollywood where she prioritized comfort and a country feel. Parton keeps her private ...
via Bing News