Telemedicine as a Wound Care Solution

Telemedicine provides a convenient way to get the care you need without traveling to the doctor or specialist you need. Virtual care, or telehealth, has been around for a while, but recent changes in healthcare have caused telemedicine services to surge. 

In the past, telemedicine visits were used primarily as urgent care encounters. If you had symptoms of a cold, you could chat with a Teladoc and maybe get antibiotics. 

Today, telemedicine services have expanded. And patients can see their telemedicine doctor for gynecologic, primary, and even wound care. In this post, we will look at how telemedicine has become a solution for patients with chronic or non-healing wounds by answering these questions. 

• How can telemedicine providers treat wounds?
• Does insurance cover wound care telemedicine?
• How do wound care specialists help patients?

Read on to learn more about telemedicine as a wound care solution.

How Can Telemedicine Providers Treat Wounds?

Telemedicine is a healthcare delivery model that involves virtual consultations between patients and physicians, using online tools such as video conferencing, virtual examination rooms, and remote medical devices.

In many situations, telemedicine is ideal for individuals with wounds. 

Those injured or struggling with chronic wounds may not feel like leaving home. Or they may be physically unable to leave home without assistance. 

Often their caregivers work and cannot take time from work for frequent doctor appointments. Also, depending on where an individual lives, there may not be a wound specialist in the area. If there is a local certified wound care expert, they may have limited availability. 

So, wound care appointments may be difficult to get.

Telemedicine providers with specialized training and certification in wound care can save patients and their families frequent trips to their doctor or wound clinic. Telemedicine for wound care is efficient. Doctors can conduct virtual visits, see the wounds, and make treatment recommendations through video. 

Telemedicine also lets patients have virtual follow-up conversations with their doctors and send images when the wounds change.

Telemedicine decreases costs by reducing the need to travel long distances to the hospital or to consult with a physician. It improves the quality of life for patients with chronic wounds while maintaining high standards of wound care. 

Does Insurance Cover Wound Care Telemedicine?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, federal and state programs (Medicare and Medicaid) and private insurers have expanded coverage for telemedicine services, including wound care. 

That is good news for patients with wounds who need to see a specialist. In many cases, your health insurance will cover the cost of your virtual visit and wound care supplies that your provider orders. 

Your insurance may cover a virtual doctor visit for treatment if you have:

• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Surgical wounds that won’t heal
• Traumatic wounds such as lacerations
• Pressure ulcers (bed sores)
• Burns
• Radiation wounds and injuries
• Painful wounds

You can check with your insurance company to find out what they will cover or talk with a telemedicine provider and have them verify your insurance coverage before making an appointment.

How Telemedicine Wound Care Specialists Help Patients

Wound care specialists provide a variety of services through telemedicine. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, telehealth is especially helpful for monitoring and improving ongoing health issues, like chronic wounds. 

A telemedicine wound care specialist can evaluate and treat wounds virtually by: 

• Ordering lab tests and X-rays
• Assisting with medication management
• Providing urgent visits for changes in the wound status
• Diabetic counseling
• Recommending wound treatments
• Teaching caregivers to perform dressing changes
• Ordering physical and occupational therapy
• Performing post-surgical follow-up

These services help patients get the right treatment to heal the wound quickly and return to normal lives.

Telemedicine specialists also coordinate your care with your other doctors or home health.

Advantages of Wound Care Telemedicine

There are many advantages of using telemedicine wound care services, including:

• No appointment wait time
• Fewer emergency room visits
• Fewer hospital stays
• The convenience of meeting in a patient’s home virtually
• Develops the bond between patient and provider
• Greater comfort for the patient 
• More cost-effective than in-person (caregiver escort, gas, etc.)
• Wound care supplies can be delivered to patient’s homes
• Enhanced quality of life
• Improved clinical outcomes

It’s easy to see why telemedicine wound care services are growing. 

Summary

While there are numerous benefits to telemedicine for patients, primary among them is the ease of convenience and the ability to access quality care fast. Wound care services provided through telemedicine are a great example of a wound care solution that is helping many individuals get the care they need. 

Learn More

If you have a skin wound that needs medical attention, talk with the My Virtual Physician team to find out if their telemedicine wound care services are right for you. 

Contact us now for your low-cost appointment that your insurance may cover!

Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. The information, graphics, and images on this site are not intended to substitute diagnosis or treatment by a medical professional. Always seek the advice of a licensed physician for any questions you may have regarding a specific condition.

Sources:

“Telemedicine in wound care”. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed June 18, 2022.

“What is telehealth”. telehealth.hhs.gov. Accessed June 18, 2022.