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Related Concept Videos

Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System01:29

Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System

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The issues and trends in healthcare delivery are constantly changing. The COVID-19 pandemic is one recent issue that wreaked havoc on healthcare systems, causing a shortage of healthcare workers, high demand for medicines and supplies, and increased medical expenditure due to a lack of insurance. Other issues include rising healthcare costs and care fragmentation.
Cost Containment
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At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
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Preventive Healthcare Services01:30

Preventive Healthcare Services

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Preventive healthcare services keep people healthy via frequent check-ups, screening, and counseling. They primarily aid in disease prevention rather than treating an acute or chronic illness. Preventive treatment also keeps individuals productive and energetic, allowing them to work well into their retirement years. Examples of preventive care services include:
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Secondary Healthcare System01:11

Secondary Healthcare System

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Secondary healthcare is offered by a specialist, generally in hospitals or clinics for patients referred by primary healthcare providers. It occurs when a person has an illness or injury that requires specific medical care. Secondary care is often referred to as acute care. Secondary care can range from uncomplicated care to repair a minor laceration or treat a strep throat infection to more complicated emergent care, such as treating a head injury sustained in an automobile accident. Whatever...
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Health Information Technology (HIT)
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Tertiary Healthcare System01:21

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Specialized care provided over an extended period is called tertiary care. Usually, a primary or secondary care physician will refer a patient to tertiary care. A patient's maximum physical and mental function is restored in tertiary care, which is caused due to the impact of a chronic illness or condition. Tertiary care aims to achieve the highest level of functioning possible while managing chronic illness. For example, a patient who falls and fractures their hip will need secondary care...
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Direct-To-Consumer Telehealth May Increase Access To Care But Does Not Decrease Spending.

J Scott Ashwood1, Ateev Mehrotra2, David Cowling3

  • 1J. Scott Ashwood (ashwood@rand.org) is an associate policy researcher at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California.

Health Affairs (Project Hope)
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PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Direct-to-consumer telehealth offers convenience but may increase healthcare spending. Most virtual visits represent new utilization, not replacements for in-person appointments, leading to higher overall costs for acute respiratory illnesses.

Keywords:
Access To CareCost of Health CareHealth SpendingOrganization and Delivery of Care

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Area of Science:

  • Health Services Research
  • Digital Health
  • Healthcare Economics

Background:

  • Direct-to-consumer telehealth is rapidly expanding, offering physician access via phone or video conferencing.
  • Health plans and employers are attracted by potential cost savings from virtual visits replacing traditional care.
  • Concerns exist that increased convenience may stimulate new demand, potentially raising overall healthcare expenditure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze utilization and spending patterns for direct-to-consumer telehealth for acute respiratory illnesses.
  • To determine the extent to which telehealth visits substitute for or supplement other healthcare services.
  • To quantify the impact of telehealth on overall healthcare spending.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized commercial claims data from over 300,000 patients spanning three years (2011-2013).
  • Focused analysis on episodes of care for acute respiratory illnesses.
  • Estimated the proportion of telehealth visits representing new utilization versus replacement of other provider visits.

Main Results:

  • An estimated 12% of direct-to-consumer telehealth visits replaced visits to other healthcare providers.
  • A significant 88% of telehealth visits represented new utilization, indicating increased overall demand.
  • Net annual healthcare spending for acute respiratory illness rose by $45 per telehealth user.

Conclusions:

  • Direct-to-consumer telehealth enhances patient access and convenience.
  • However, it is associated with increased healthcare utilization and overall spending.
  • The findings suggest a need to balance the benefits of telehealth accessibility with its economic implications.