We have learned a lot about the ins and outs of telehealth since the start of the COVID pandemic. We have learned what technology can and cannot do in a healthcare setting. All of what we learned will hopefully make telehealth better moving forward. At the very least, it should improve how synchronous and asynchronous telehealth work together.
Telehealth has many different facets, according to the experts at CSI Health, a health kiosk company. CSI Health designs and builds a variety of telemedicine solutions, including stationary healthcare kiosks and mobile telehealth kits.
The company says that direct-to-consumer telehealth is the main focus right now. And that being the case, they and their competitors design tools around the concept of facilitating both synchronous and asynchronous transactions. The two work together to provide a complete telehealth experience.
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Synchronous Telehealth Transactions
A synchronous telehealth transaction is one in which all parties participate at the same time. For example, a patient going over blood test results with the doctor via video chat is involved in a synchronous transaction. The consultation occurs in real time. So does any exchange of information pertinent to that discussion.
Synchronous transactions can be limited to consultations only. But they can also be diagnostic in nature. A healthcare provider utilizing a CSI Health medical kiosk has the advantage of built-in diagnostic tools that generate real-time data.
Benefits of Synchronous Telehealth
Synchronous telehealth benefits healthcare providers in a number of ways. Here are just a few of them:
- Improved Patient Retention – Synchronous telehealth makes accessing healthcare delivery convenient for patients. That convenience goes a long way toward improving patient retention.
- Fewer No-Shows – Eliminating the need for patients to travel to and from the doctor’s office reduces no-show rates. Simply put, there are fewer things that get in the way of telehealth visits.
- Growth Potential – Offering synchronous telehealth gives practices opportunities for growth. Thanks to telehealth efficiency, providers can see more patients in the same amount of time, thereby allowing them to increase their total caseloads.
Though it is possible to offer synchronous telehealth without complementary asynchronous transactions, doing so doesn’t make sense. Combining synchronous and asynchronous transactions maximizes telehealth potential.
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Asynchronous Telehealth Transactions
Asynchronous transactions involve actions by multiple parties that are taken at separate times. In nearly every case, they are transactions involving the sharing and transfer of data. Provider and patient do not need to communicate in real time because the data isn’t critical.
A perfect example would be updating healthcare records on either end. Perhaps a patient wants to inform the doctor of a new prescription recommended by a specialist. Maybe the patient moves, gets a new phone number, or whatever. They enter the data into an online portal at the most convenient time.
On the other end, the doctor’s office could post the results of routine tests as soon as they come in. Sending an email to the patient lets them know the results are ready for viewing. They can be viewed at the patient’s convenience.
How They Help
Asynchronous transactions save time by making the transfer and storage of all data electronic. They make furnishing data more efficient. Asynchronous transactions can even introduce automation to the equation, eliminating the need for office personnel to continue doing mundane tasks computers are more than capable of handling.
Direct-to-consumer telehealth is still an emerging enterprise. But as technology and telehealth strategies evolve, healthcare providers can offer patients more services they both want and need. It is all coming together to create a more efficient healthcare delivery system fit for the technology era in which we live.