MDNews - Long Island

I N T H E M I D S T of t he COV I D -1 9 pa ndem ic, telemedicine ha s experienced a rapid a nd va st expansion. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a key element of this approach to patient care. RPM relies on the use of digital technology to gather health data from patients who are at locations other than hospitals or doctors' offices. The types of data captured by RPM devices include blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, heart rhythms, vital signs and weight. RPM devices transmit that data to healthcare providers who are not physically present with their patients. This technology is particularly useful in reducing hospital readmission rates. It also enables seniors to live at home when they may otherwise need to move into skilled nursing facilities. Sophisticated Monitoring Made Easy TRENDS TO LOOK FOR IN 2021 RPM devices on the market today include functionality designed for patients of all ages with a wide spectrum of needs. + Cardiologs offers expert cardiac care through artificial intelligence and cloud technologies, automating roughly 80% of the labor necessary to perform specialized diagnostic care. + Babyscripts provides women with pre- and postnatal care via a virtual maternity care platform, reducing the need for in-person visits. + AltumView Systems offers a medical alert system for seniors, complete with a smart visual sensor, cloud server and mobile app. On January 1, 2020, home health providers were cleared to include the costs of RPM in Medicare reimbursement, further incentivizing the use of this approach to patient care. n REMOTELY MONITORING PATIENTS IS AN INCRE A SINGLY PRE VALENT ME THOD OF PROVIDING CARE, AND A WE ALTH OF OPTIONS HAVE ENTERED THE MARKE T. BY K ATY MENA-BERKLEY in the Era of COVID-19 BY K ATY MENA-BERKLEY A S THE UNITED STATES MANAGES HE ALTHCARE DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, PRIORITIZING PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT IS ESSENTIAL. AT A TIME when COVID-19 is the cover stor y on nea rly ever y ma ga zine a nd newspaper, many other important topics have faded into the background. To their detriment, patients have neglected other healthcare conditions because they are fearful to set foot inside of a hospita l. Administratively, certain organizational details, such as physician recruitment, m ay h ave a l s o b e en s h i f t e d t o t he back burner. However, w it h t he distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, it seems that a resolution to the pandemic may be in sight, and organizations such as the Medical Group Management Association predict that by fall 2021, physician demand will return to normal levels. A TIMELY INVESTMENT Recruitment ca n be a costly venture, requi r i ng a s much a s $250,000 a nd approximately seven to eight months to hire a single candidate. Yet, putting off the task can end up costing hospitals more money and time in the long run. Wit h rou g h ly 30% of t he phy sicia n popu lat ion nea r i n g ret i rement a ge, trained physicians, and specia lists in particular, are in high demand. Practices looking to add to their clinica l tea ms should keep in mind the impor ta nce of s ho w c a s i n g a c u lt u r e t h a t m a y seem attractive to the ca ndidate a nd highlighting incentives that may spark interest, such as malpractice insurance or relocation a llowa nce, according to the American Association for Physician Leadership. They a lso advise practices to harness the power of online recruiting a nd develop a d i g it a l presence t hat stands out from competitors. n Recruiting Physicians 1 0❱❱❱❱❱ C O V E R F E A T U R E

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