AV over IP has become an increasingly vital force for helping advance education in the healthcare industry. Now, its poised to help bring patients and doctors closer than ever before.

Patient portals are becoming more effective, waiting rooms are becoming more interactive and treatments are becoming more immersive. From healthcare access and diagnosis to treatment and aftercare, here's how AV over IP and healthcare IT is helping improve the entire patient experience.

 

 

 

 

In some instances, the presence of AV over IP-powered telemedicine can be the difference between life and death, severe disability, and full recovery. Strokes are the third-leading cause of death in the US, but getting treatment within three hours can significantly lower the risk of serious injury or death.

By allowing neurologists and other medical experts to remotely assess stroke patients quickly, telemedicine has been instrumental in saving lives in remote and rural areas, says Pro AV Systems' Adrienne Blasioli.

The key difference between patient portals and virtual healthcare is that portals connect a patient with a provider who has immediate, organized access to medical records in one place, says Shahid Mansuri, co-founder of Peerbits. High-quality streaming and data sharing enable doctors to have a more personal connection to patients and their needs.

 

AV over IP patient portals aren't just used for doctor-to-patient functionality. They're also being used for patient education purposes across waiting rooms, treatment facilities and recovery programs, says Rob Muddiman, EMEA sales director at ZeeVee.

“This AV is primarily focused on informing and educating patients and carers on specifics of their condition, from surgical procedure recovery to newborn care in a maternity wing.”

Waiting rooms can be transformed when digital signage is combined with AV over IP technology. “There's been a growth in digital signage systems that inform patients in waiting areas when they should proceed to a treatment room,” explains Exterity CEO Colin Farquhar.

These can be particularly effective at larger facilities where the location of treatment rooms may not always be clear. In cases like these, digital signage can offer a granular directory with direction features that help patients find the rooms and staff members they are looking for.

AV over IP-based digital signage can also be used to streamline check-in when patients first enter the facility, says Ingram Micro.

“Using digital screens and specialty content management software, staff members can easily check patients in, collect and verify information, and provide estimated wait times, which helps to ease the workload of front-desk employees.”

 

Demand for virtual healthcare services is growing. The majority of people are now willing to try virtual healthcare, according to research from Dr. Ken Abrams of Deloitte.

While 77 percent of respondents had not yet tried a virtual visit, this figure is likely to change as patient portals become more widespread. As AV over IP technology makes patient portals more accessible, effective and informative, uptake of virtual healthcare should increase across providers.

You don't have to look hard to find instances of AV over IP-powered healthcare portals, however. Many are already improving the patient experience at every stage of care.

 

While some patient portals can be used to give patients access to experts, others can be used for caregiving.

This is the case for Living Memories, a platform powered by TripleChoice Media Portal, which provides dementia care workers with an archive of video content that can be used to stimulate patients. On-demand video of locations and objects from their younger years is designed to act as memory triggers and provoke discussion that can aid care.

Tripleplay marketing manager James Keen empathizes with the heartbreaking effects of dementia, both on the patient and their loved ones.

“Finding a way to engage patients is vital and if digital media can play a part then we are very happy and proud to be involved.”

 

Kaiser Permanente has already managed to make more than half of all patient visits virtual. The company offers non-emergency consultations and follow-up care via video, secure email, messaging and telephone.

Video is a huge part of their virtual care offering. Being able to see their doctor is a big positive for patients, according to Pat Conolly, chief information officer at The Permanente Federation.

“That adds to the experience rather than just being on the phone,” he adds. This also creates more touch points between between physicians and patients, rather than replacing in-person visits.