Heart Disease is the number one cause of mortality in the United States, leading to over 630,000 deaths per year.  While the U.S. has made great strides in cardiac care, certain vulnerable populations have limited access, especially for chronic conditions. Providing cardiac care to remote areas via telemedicine ensures that more lives are saved. Telehealth services have reduced the mortality rate of cardiovascular issues by 30 to 35%, according to a May 2017 review paper.

iDoc Telehealth Solution’s cardiac care services include remote monitoring of patients through implanted cardiac devices. These devices allow us to monitor patients in any location, increasing the patient’s trust and satisfaction. Due to the worldwide shortage of medical staff, patients who need 24/7 surveillance can be served via telemedicine much more easily and cost effectively.

The number of psychiatric hospitals and acute care psychiatric units has declined steadily since the 1960s. Beds nationwide dropped from approximately 400,000 in 1970 to 50,000 in 2006.

Telepsychiatry is an established and growing solution to this evolving crisis. iDoc’s virtual health services connects patients with psychiatrists for acute and chronic care. Utilizing live interactive telemedicine visits, our system allows psychiatrists to support primary care providers with mental health care consultations and treat more patients in distant locations. A growing body of research shows that telepsychiatry is as effective as in-person treatment, with high satisfaction among patients, psychiatrists and other professionals. Patient privacy and confidentiality are maintained through our secure systems.

There are approximately 31 million people (or 10% of the U.S. population) currently living with chronic kidney disease, and many of them also have diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Telemedicine can help patients, doctors and hospitals overcome the frustrations of trying to manage this complex disease and lack of services in remote areas.

For example, telemedicine can monitor blood pressure at home, which has been shown to improve hypertension—a key issue for these patients. If a patient is managing multiple medical conditions, telemedicine can connect two specialists via video conference to facilitate a holistic and comprehensive conversation. Patients can interact with a doctor or nurse while getting dialysis at a center or at home—a source of comfort.  Telemedicine is a great way to provide education and advice to patients in real time, as soon as the need arises.

Cancer kills almost 600,000 people per year, accounting for almost 23% of deaths in the U.S. Through telemedicine, patients can easily seek second opinions, providing reassurance that they are receiving the best possible care.  Through iDoc video conferencing and remote diagnostics, for example, a radiologist may reevaluate scan imaging, or a doctor with an expertise in a particular cancer can consult with a patient who lives across the country. For patients who travel a great distance for oncology services, some aspects of care can be performed just as effectively in the comfort of the patient’s home.  With a growing network of oncologists, iDoc can help bridge the distance between the patient and the oncologist.

Telemedicine can relieve emergency room overcrowding and provide 24-hour targeted, quality urgent care for low acuity patients. Through video-to-video conferencing and iDoc-supported peripheral devices such as ultrasound, stethoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, and video laryngoscopy, our dedicated EM specialists are able to diagnose and treat urgent cases with remarkable results. iDoc can adapt its EM platform and workflow for a variety of environments, including rural emergency rooms, correctional facilities, and large corporations.