Approximately 90 million Americans are living with serious illnesses, and the future projections are even more concerning. Within the next 25 years, the number is expected to more than double. Today, 6,000,000 people in the United States could benefit from a palliative care program. Yet not all programs are accessible or thorough enough for each patient based on location, access to specialists, and face time with doctors.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is a branch of medicine that concentrates on those living with a severe illness. It’s offered starting at diagnosis and continuing through end-of-life. This type of care includes comfort care and treatment to cure the condition. The goal is to improve and extend the quality of life for the patient and the patient’s caregivers. If it sounds like a heavy lift, it is. This level of care requires a team of specialists across many disciplines, such as:
- Disease Co-Management
- Medication Management
- Symptom Management
- Psychosocial Stress Management
- Advanced Care Planning or Care Goals
Who Needs Palliative Care?
More people than you may realize can utilize palliative care. Its mission is to let patients live more comfortably with the medical, social and emotional support they need for the highest quality of life. Anyone can receive palliative care no matter their age, prognosis or whether they are receiving treatments. Those who benefit most can include people struggling with:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Heart disease
- HIV & AIDS
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Lung disease
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Stroke
- And More
Why Doesn’t Everyone Use It?
Thorough palliative care can be a heavy lift for small hospitals. Nationwide, 72% of hospitals with at least 50 beds have a palliative care team, which is often also fragmented by staffing shortages and the need for more specialists. For rural regions, the main challenge is the lack of consistent access to seriously ill individuals. This applies to those who have long-term or debilitating illnesses that make frequent visits to the hospital nearly impossible, especially if the facility or supporting family aren’t nearby. At Eagle Telemedicine, we believe palliative care should be accessible to everyone, especially those who need an extra hand in reaching it.
How Telemedicine Is Changing The Game
Telemedicine is changing the narrative. Below are a handful of ways Tele-Palliative Care can support those in need:
- Improved Access to Care – Companies like Eagle Telemedicine promise 24/7 Access to Palliative Care Physicians in record time. This not only breaks down geographical barriers but also reaches those who can not travel for the services they need. It eliminates the need for travel, which is especially beneficial for those with limited mobility or severe symptoms, enhancing feelings of security and safety.
- Enhanced Quality of Life for Patients and Families – Tele-Palliative care allows patients to receive symptom management, emotional support, and end-of-life care in familiar surroundings. This leads to an improved quality of life for patients and their families, reducing the stress and discomfort associated with hospital visits.
- Cost-Effectiveness and Resource Optimization – Tele-Palliative care is beneficial not only for patients but also for healthcare systems. By reducing expensive locum tenens and patient transfers, Tele-Palliative care helps lower healthcare costs. By providing care remotely, telemedicine allows for more efficient use of healthcare resources, such as hospital beds and staff time, ultimately leading to a more sustainable healthcare ecosystem.
Living with a serious illness can take a toll on patients’ minds, bodies and relationships. Access to care should not add to the equation. Eagle’s Tele-Palliative Care providers deliver thorough diagnosis and care via virtual exams, diagnostics and provider-to-provider consultations, making access to critical medication, disease and symptom management within reach for all. For more information about implementing Tele-Palliative care at your hospital, contact Eagle Telemedicine today.
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