How the Cleveland Clinic Is Using Telehealth to Improve Healthcare Access

How Today’s Healthcare Landscape Is Disrupting Access To Care

It can be difficult for many patients to obtain specialized care in the rural areas and medical areas where they are located, let alone a second opinion. And some patients may not have the resources to travel easily to the nearest hospital with a doctor who can attend to their needs. In addition, older adults, patients with disabilities or patients experiencing severe pain may be unable to travel to a Cleveland Clinic location for a second opinion. Even Ohio patients may have difficulty setting up an appointment.

“Accessing healthcare anywhere in the US is becoming more and more challenging because of complex systems and phone trees for people to navigate,” Rasmussen said. “Patients may not know which doctor is the right one to see, or they may not even have a doctor in their community.”

For some conditions, such as epilepsy in children, sophisticated care is lacking in many countries. Rasmussen pointed out that many children end up taking multiple medications that impair their ability to function.

“Many of these children can be helped to become free of seizures, off drugs, have a higher quality of life and become more productive members of society,” he said. “To that end, we have signed contracts with countries for epilepsy care. Providing access to that level of expertise for people who might not otherwise have it is a main goal of the programme.

to explore: How to put equity at the forefront of telehealth.

Expanding Healthcare Access and Reducing Costs Through Telehealth

The clinic’s Virtual Second Opinion program provides patients with an opportunity to connect with a Cleveland Clinic specialist, who is provided with information about the patient’s medical records and imaging. Since the program’s launch in January 2020, nearly 80 percent of second opinions driven by The Clinic come from the US market, and nearly half of second opinions are related to heart conditions. However, the organization also handles second opinions for patients with cancer, gastrointestinal conditions, and orthopedic problems.

“What we’re finding is that about a quarter of the time, we’re changing the diagnosis. About three-quarters of the time, we’re changing their treatment plan,” said Rasmussen, who explained that he helps patients who who were told by their local team that they were incapable or had no choice.

Tweet: #healthequity is a growing focus for healthcare organizations across the country. by Dr. Peter Rasmussen of the Clinic @Cleveland Clinic explained on #vive2023 How its Virtual Second Opinion Program Increases Access to Care. pic.twitter.com/6dm1LQRVPX

— HealthTech Magazine (@HealthTechMag) March 28, 2023

In addition to benefiting patient health, the program is also reducing costs for patients and insurance companies.

“On average, when we recommend a treatment change, we’re saving the payer or the patient about $12,000,” Rasmussen said. “In some areas, such as musculoskeletal, where surgery is overused, we are actually saving $18,000 for a single consultation.”

The clinic mostly relies on video visits with patients using the Amwell platform to provide a second opinion, but in cases where the patient does not prefer a video connection, or if they are overseas in an area with low broadband The clinic also provides written reports or telephone calls.

What’s next for Clinic by Cleveland Clinic?

Going forward, Rasmussen explained that the organization plans to contract directly with payers and employers because “the right care is the least expensive care.”

“We know that on average we save payers a lot of money when we recommend treatment changes. This is an amazing benefit that payers can offer their members because they can access Cleveland Clinic specialists without having to travel. are providing essentially free or very low-cost access,” he said. “A lot of payers are combining that second opinion with a travel benefit so that, if patients decide they want to receive follow-up care at the Cleveland Clinic, the cost of airfare and hotels will be covered.”

The clinic is also developing programs to offer remote management of chronic disease because many patients seeking second opinions ask if the program also offers treatment. The clinic currently cannot treat patients due to regulatory constraints, but Rasmussen hopes to launch a new component of the program in the coming months.

next: What’s New in Telehealth Reimbursement for 2023?