Neurology telemedicine:
a full solution overview

Neurology telemedicine: a full solution overview

May 13, 2023

Neurology telemedicine market statistics

neurologists are currently employed in the US

Zippia

neurologists used telehealth in 2021

American Medical Association

neurologists agreed that telehealth increased their professional satisfaction

American Medical Association

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The architecture of a neurological telemedicine solution

Solutions developed for the department of neurology include the same core elements as general-use software for telehealth appointments: separate servers for video and audio streaming as well as for data storage and processing. However, the variety of additional integrations and interfaces for medical professionals, admins, and patient access makes the solution neurology-specific.

Neurology medical specialistsEHRMedical imaging systemsRemote patient monitoring devicesLaboratory information systemsOther 3d party apps (payment gateways, electronic prescription software, hospital management software, etc.)Patients and caregiversInformational dashboardfor different user groupsCloud server for data storage and processingAdminsVideo and audiostreaming serversorEHROther 3d party apps (payment gateways, electronic prescription software, hospital management software, etc.)orMedical imaging systemsRemote patient monitoring devicesLaboratory information systemsPatients & caregiversInformational dashboardfor different user groupsNeurology medical specialistsCloud server for data storage and processingAdminsVideo and audiostreaming servers

Key capabilities of telemedicine for neurology

Functionality differs across telehealth neurology applications depending on the providers’ specialties and service scopes. Still, the solutions most commonly include features for secure communication with patients, monitoring their conditions, and engaging with them.

Communication

A telehealth app should enable effective synchronous and asynchronous communication between patients, neurologists, and other medical professionals.
    • Messaging, including image and video exchange
    • High-quality video and audio conferencing
    • Appointment scheduling
    • Referral management
    • Electronic prescriptions

    Essential telehealth software integrations

    While you can successfully use teleneurology applications as they are for consultations, integrations with various healthcare software can significantly increase medical specialists’ productivity, save time, and help patients get more convenient and beneficial virtual care.
    Key integration options
    EMR/EHR
    Pharmacy management software
    Remote patient monitoring
    Laboratory information systems
    Healthcare data analytics solutions
    Billing and insurance management

    Enable neurologists to access patients’ health history, including immunization, allergy, and medication records, for more precise diagnosis and treatment by connecting the telehealth platform to the EHR system of choice.

    With a PMS integration, you can streamline medication management for patients and their caregivers, including receiving prescriptions, validation, refills, or changes due to adverse reactions.

    Facilitate 24/7 condition monitoring and help neurologists examine patients more thoroughly using specialized devices that instantly exchange data with the telehealth app.

    Laboratory information systems

    Connect the teleneurology platform to the laboratory information system and give neurology specialists faster access to detailed lab test reports for speedy diagnosis or treatment monitoring.

    With an analytics software integration, neurologists can extract valuable insights from tests, symptom logs, EHR, and medical images for accurate diagnostics and offer personalized data-based treatment to patients.

    Billing and insurance management

    Make sure your medical personnel gets reimbursement for teleneurology services faster and in full, and simplify payment through the teleneurology app by connecting it to financial software.

    Teleneurology use cases

    Online neurologists can perform various tasks through telehealth, from swift diagnoses and urgent patient care recommendations to chronic neurological conditions management and annual checkups. Therefore, such remote care delivery is perfect for those unable to make in-person visits to the specialist’s office: patients with restricted mobility or incapacitating mental health conditions, those belonging to the high-risk groups during the pandemic, pediatric patients, the elderly, or people living in medically underserved regions.

    • Stroke care
    • Epilepsy episode
    • Encephalitis
    • Head injuries
    • Seizure origin detection
    • Headache
    • Cognitive dysregulation
    • Parkinson disease
    • Chronic depression
    • Multiple sclerosis
    • Normal pressure hydrocephalus
    • Neuromuscular abnormalities
    • Neuro-oncology
    • Dementia
    • Movement disorders
    • Regular checkups and follow-ups
    • Prevention of cerebrovascular diseases
    • Cerebral aneurysm detection
    • Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
    • Mini-Mental State Examination

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    How different user groups leverage teleneurology software

    Clinicians, patients, caregivers, and system admins perform different actions and need access to different types of information in a teleneurology application. Therefore, the teleneurology user experience varies significantly for each user group, and developers should cater to them all.

    Patients and caregivers
    They schedule appointments, pay for telehealth services, review the recordings of their sessions, manage their health information, add data to the symptom logs, receive electronic prescriptions, and get instructions on their conditions’ management. Some apps can also provide patient satisfaction questionnaires for them to complete.
    Medical professionals
    They manage their appointment schedules, provide telemedicine services, review patient health information, and refer them to other healthcare specialists with additional notes to ensure the continuity of care. They can also hold meetings with neuroscience professionals to get a second opinion on complicated cases.
    Admins
    They monitor the software’s performance, update it if needed, solve technical issues, integrate additional modules, migrate data from other systems, or manage other users’ access to the protected information.

    Real-life examples of telemedicine in neurology

    Access Telecare

    Access Telecare’s expert neurologists conduct around 7,000 teleconsultations every month for hospitals around the US. They leverage telecommunications technology and healthcare analytics to provide neurological services where on-site neurologists aren’t available. Сlinicians can reach out to Telecare experts in just five minutes to get help identifying the condition and recommended treatment.

    Teleneurology implementation challenges

    As a relatively new technology in the healthcare field, teleneurology has its limitations. While some challenges, like licensing difficulties for out-of-state specialists, need to be addressed on the legislative level, others can be easily solved by an experienced implementation partner.

    Challenges

    Solutions

    High costs

    You can use the additional revenue teleneurology solutions generate to compensate for the cost of their implementation. If the upfront license cost is too high, healthcare providers can opt for SaaS solutions with a per-month payment model.

    Physicians’ reluctance to learn a new technology

    Hospital decision-makers should convey the benefits teleneurology can bring to their employees. You can hold training, solution presentations, and workshops with Q&A sessions to help get medical personnel on board with the innovation.

    Privacy and security concerns

    Teleneurology software should be developed according to telehealth interoperability policies and security protocols. It should also employ standard security capabilities like end-to-end data encryption and two-factor authentication and comply with HIPAA, GDPR, or other local regulations.

    Complications with obtaining medical images like EEG, CT-scans

    It is true that some medical images still have to be taken in-person at a special facility. Yet, medical IoT is developing rapidly, so more and more diagnostic procedures can be performed in real-time during virtual visits. Remote EEG services are already available for ICU and ER units and are in the testing stage for in-home use.

    Benefits of telemedicine for neurology

    The AAN confirms that telemedicine for neurology benefits multiple demographic groups of patients, medical professionals, and healthcare organizations if implemented correctly.

    Benefits of telemedicine for neurology

    • Wider service area coverage
    • Flexible working hours and location
    • Reduced facility costs
    • More engaged patients
    • Faster reimbursement
    • Better health outcomes

    Teleneurology adoption success factors

    To benefit from the above-mentioned advantages of teleneurology software, healthcare providers have to choose or make sure during the implementation that a solution that has certain characteristics.
    Teleneurology solution

    Interoperable
    to transfer data seamlessly between other healthcare software

    Properly implemented 
    with clear objectives and a roadmap in mind

    Reliable 
    to ensure stable performance and quick recovery in case of disruptions

    Used by trained personnel 
    to ensure the workflows’ efficiency and user satisfaction

    User-friendly 
    to prevent burnout in neurologists and other medical staff

    Secure and compliant 
    to protect patient data and your neurologists’ licenses

    Flexible 
    easy to update when your institution’s goals or needs change

    Scalable 
    to support you in growing your patient base and service portfolio

    Save lives by employing teleneurology

    Save lives by employing teleneurology

    The human brain is the most powerful and fragile organ in our bodies, making fast medical response essential in case of injury or malfunction. Therefore, healthcare organizations should strive to give patients easy access to quality neurological services even if no neurology specialists are in the area. Teleneurology helps neurology specialists reach patients in underserved areas, and those who can’t travel to the hospital frequently due to health conditions. Providers who have adopted teleneurology report elevated levels of patient trust with fewer readmissions and no-shows, improved professional satisfaction from the medical specialists, and increased revenue. If you want to tap into such benefits, Itransition can be your reliable telehealth technology partner.

    Save lives by employing teleneurology

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    FAQs about telemedicine for neurology

    How much does developing a telemedicine app for neurology cost?

    Do I need a custom teleneurology app?

    How long does it take to implement teleneurology software?

    Can I just use Skype, Messenger, or any other similar system to provide consultations?

    Is there proof that video visits are as effective as office visits?