But many of these visits are avoidable to begin with. One study alone found that more than 70% of emergency room visits were for nonemergency conditions or conditions preventable through outpatient care / treatment in place.[i] Each of these visits that is prevented represents an opportunity to protect an often-vulnerable or immunocompromised patient from unnecessary exposure to additional illness and infection.
Further, when telemedicine is used as an alternative to a trip to the hospital, there are very real financial benefits as well, even in the emergency room setting. During a 52-week period in Iowa, rural skilled nursing facilities were able to save hundreds of thousands by using tele-emergency services. They were also able to keep over 1,200 patients at their facility; these represent the patients who would have been transferred to the hospital if the tele-emergency program had not been in place.[ii] Considering that the average cost for a medical/surgical floor bed per day is $1,800, this represents huge savings.[iii]
[i] Gold, A. (2013). 70% of ER visits unnecessary for patients with employer-sponsored insurance. Fierce Healthcare.
[ii] Morgan, J. (2017). Study says telehealth in the ED can avoid hundreds of transfers. ASHE Health Facilities Management.
[iii] Foley, M., Kifaieh, N. & Mallon, W.K. (2011). Financial impact of emergency department crowding. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine.