By Norah Tucker
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decline in hospitalization rates among cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients — but for the wrong reasons. Fear of COVID-19 infection has made patients reluctant to seek medical attention when needed. This is a cause for concern, as CVD is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. Around 655,000 Americans pass away due to heart disease each year, and CVD costs the U.S. $219 billion in healthcare services, medication, and lost productivity.
Even without the challenges of COVID-19, managing heart disease is already a time-consuming effort. Frequent doctors visits are required to manage a heart condition, and specialists, like cardiologists, may not always be available in your community. This is why telehealth programs are an effective way of managing CVD.
Reduce number of hospitalizations
Studies show that there are a number of deterrents to cardiovascular care like geographic location, wealth, and education. In recent years, these deterrents have dictated the trend for cardiovascular mortality. Greater disparities are attributed to lower access to basic primary care and treatments; for example, there are more CVD mortality rates in rural areas — and they’re still on the rise.
Telehealth can help patients receive the advice, treatment, and care they need. It eliminates the deterrents to getting the right diagnosis and treatment, as providers can offer a timely delivery of prevention services through virtual appointments. Instead of delayed or canceled in-person check-ups, patients can easily schedule routine appointments online — and without exposing themselves to the COVID-19 virus.
Ensure patient satisfaction
Due to the country’s aging population, it is projected that patients aged 65 years old and older will require care from an additional 125,000 physicians within the next 15 years. This shortage of physicians includes cardiologists, as we would need an additional 3,000 to 13,000 specialists as well. Fortunately, healthcare professionals are now trained to integrate technologies like telehealth services into their treatment plans, which lightens the load on positions with shortages. Moreover, technology also allows other healthcare providers — such as nurses — to upskill and fill in the gaps.
Registered nurses with BSN credentials have the advanced skills necessary to assess patient health, present research, and direct nursing teams. This allows them to educate patients and oversee outpatient care. By enabling nurses and other healthcare providers to conduct online consultations, telehealth gives patients a cost-effective and convenient treatment option. Hospitals and clinics would also be able to leverage all their physicians, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, dieticians, and other specialists to let CVD patients get the personalized care they need.
Improve overall health outcomes
Heart diseases require increased self-management for patients, so telehealth allows doctors to monitor their progress consistently. Even as they recover from surgery at home, cardiologists and primary care physicians can ensure treatment-plan adherence so patients can bounce back faster.
Through telehealth programs, care providers can check if the patient is sleeping well, eating well, and healing from the incisions. And if a patient has any traumas with the surgery, they can even talk to a psychologist and work through the stressors that may hinder recovery progress.
About Norah Tucker
Norah Tucker is interested in all things healthcare. She believes each person should take responsibility for their own health and well-being, which is why she dedicates her time to researching ways to stay in good physical condition. When she’s not looking at medical news, Norah likes to practice yoga at home.
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