Advantages of Telehealth

How are physicians and hospitals benefitting from using telehealth?

healthcare technology

Interprofessional consultations aren’t just beneficial for physicians, but also for healthcare organizations. Consultations between nurse practitioners, primary care physicians and specialists are growing rapidly as the utilization of telehealth becomes more common. These consultations and discussions with specialists located outside of the hospital lead to fewer patient transfers, reduced readmissions and costs savings. Here are just a few ways physicians are using telehealth for interprofessional consultations and how hospitals are benefiting.

Being in two places at once.

Through telehealth, it’s possible for physicians to serve patients at multiple locations throughout the day. One practice in Fort Collins, Colorado, Miramont Family Medicine, has four offices across the area with staff and patients in each location. CEO John Bender has implemented telehealth to better connect with patients and staff across all his locations without physically being there. Bender often has a nurse practitioner or physician assistant see a patient while he uses telehealth to assist the decision making. The benefit? It greatly improves productivity, efficiency and job satisfaction.

Collaborating to succeed.

Physicians are starting to utilize the benefits of physician to physician consultations via telehealth programs. One major program is the Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW), a not-for-profit plan created to provide care to Medicare, Medicaid and underserved populations. Instead of sending a patient off to a specialist for a separate appointment with added costs, the primary care physicians in this program are collaborating on their own with specialists. Since patients are receiving high-quality care from the organization, patient outcomes improve and specialist consultations are no longer skipped.

Bringing urban care to rural communities.

With a severe lack of specialists across rural American communities, telehealth programs have stepped in to help connect urban physicians to rural physicians. A pediatrics program launched in 2016 by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to help doctors in remote Navajo communities connect with specialists in the Philadelphia area via telehealth. Physicians at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia use this platform to help Indian Health Service physicians with difficult cases and strengthen rural physicians’ skills. This program hopes to improve clinical outcomes for hundreds of thousands of children in communities from Alaska to Arizona.

Closing the specialty referral gap.

A San Diego-based health system saw great success in 2016 with a telemedicine program that highlighted physician and specialist collaboration to reduce second appointments for patients. The program has the functionality that allows a primary care physician to communicate with specialists via an asynchronous exchange. Therefore, more primary care physicians can give specialty care to their patients. These consultations between primary care physicians and specialists mean more accurate diagnoses. Primary care physicians are able to connect with specialists to quickly assess problems that need urgent follow-up, such as strokes and melanoma.

Connecting nurse practitioners to physicians.

At Stanford Children’s Health, a telehealth program allows patients and their families to access pediatric specialty care through a nurse practitioner. The physician can see and hear exactly what the NP does during the visit or follow-up appointment and can assist as necessary. NPs can see more patients, fill in last-minute cancellations and accommodate urgent requests while patients and specialists won’t have to travel long distances for appointments. Organizations will save when using an NP rather than bringing on a specialist full-time.

With many physicians experiencing burnout symptoms, it’s important to understand how they can better use their tools and surroundings to serve patients. As an organization, it’s important to utilize this cost-saving tool to create more efficiency and productivity. Ultimately, when physicians use telehealth there’s a direct effect on the organization: fewer patient transfers and more money saved. How can we help your physicians with interprofessional consultations via telehealth?

Learn how Jackson + Coker can help with your telehealth needs.

Connect With Us

Federal facts for you.

We are a Federal Supply Schedule Contract holder. 

Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Contract: 36F79723D0086, Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing, effective March 15, 2023, through March 14, 2028.

NAICS Codes:
  • 561320: Temporary help services. 
  • 621111: Offices of physicians. 
  • 621112: Offices of physicians, mental health specialists. 
  • 621399: Offices of all other miscellaneous health practitioners. 
  • 621330: Offices of mental health practitioners.

Privileging.

Once you and our client agree to move forward with your assignment, our privileging team will assist you and the client in gathering information required by the healthcare facility to grant clinical privileges.

1

We contact the facility’s Medical Service Office (MSO) for their application and requirements.

2

We will assist you by pre-populating the facility’s application and sending to the MSO.

3

We will assist the MSO by following up on requested items.

4

MSO will grant privileges based on your training and experience, and you will be able to start your assignment.

Headshot of Maggie Youmans

Maggie Youmans

Senior Vice President, Sales

As Senior Vice President, Maggie oversees several key specialty divisions and adjacent teams. With a demonstrated history of leading teams and developing individuals across the organization, she is dedicated to inspiring, challenging and empowering associates to achieve their personal and professional goals. 

Maggie earned degrees in marketing and management focused on consumer economics from the University of Georgia, Terry College of Business. She enjoys traveling with her husband to visit different bed and breakfasts. Together, they have been able to see the beauty within their own backyard and across the country.

Connect with Maggie on LinkedIn.

Headshot of Anne Anderson

Anne Anderson

Executive Vice President

"I'm passionate about the locum tenens industry - we make a real difference in the lives of both our heroic healthcare providers and the patients they treat."

Anne has been at the forefront of the evolution of locum tenens for more than 35 years. She’s a respected leader with expertise in corporate operations, risk management, credentialing, and travel services. Before joining Jackson + Coker, she served as Executive Vice President at Medical Doctor Associates, part of Cross Country Healthcare. 

An ardent industry advocate, Anne served several years on the Board of the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO), including two years as president. 

Anne received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Spring Hill College. She is also a PADI open water diver and enjoys scuba diving. 

Connect with Anne on LinkedIn.