White Paper Says Telehealth Is Expected To Gain Popularity - Especially On College Campuses - In Coming Decade

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A rapidly changing healthcare landscape, with new delivery and reimbursement models redefining the traditional doctor-patient relationship, has created an opening for a rapid expansion of telehealth in the U.S. in the coming decade, especially on college campuses, according to a new report by George Pantos, Executive Director, Healthcare Performance Management (HPM) Institute.

The complete HPM Institute report is at www.hpminstitute.org.  Among its key findings are:

• Telehealth, which is not insurance, can complement parent and school insurance plans and provide today's mobile phone- and computer-connected students with direct, quick access to primary care doctors for basic health information;
• Parents can gain peace of mind know that their student has ready, around-the-clock access to quality, physician care away from home; and
• Institutions of higher education can expand their campus health services to 24/7 without additional infrastructure or personnel costs.

These findings, according to report author Pantos, are now becoming clear as the dust settles in a new U.S. healthcare world, shaken up by the 2010 passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the resultant Supreme Court battle over its constitutionality, and the 2012 decisions by the Court and the American people to keep the ACA in place and President Barack Obama in office.

"In this post-ACA environment, significant trends are converging to impact the healthcare choices of college and university students," said Pantos.  "These choices, in large part, are driven by innovative patient care delivery models, provider reimbursement options, advances in technology and new modalities of electronic communication."

"When you include other broader healthcare factors, such as the looming primary doctor shortage, costly office visits and rapidly escalating health insurance premiums, the focus on alternative healthcare delivery models – including telehealth – is expected to intensify," added Pantos.  The HPM Institute executive director noted this is particularly true for routine, non-urgent medical services, which form the core of what is provided through campus health centers.

About the HPM Institute
Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, The Healthcare Performance Management Institute is a research and education organization dedicated to promoting the use of business technology and management principles that deliver better, more cost-effective healthcare benefits for employers who cover their employees.

SOURCE HPM Institute