Stay on track with your care, record symptoms and adjust treatment from home

Virtual care has become one of the easiest ways for patients to regularly connect with clinicians, track their symptoms and receive treatment for chronic conditions. With online video visits and remote monitoring tools, patients are able to see their doctors from home and don’t have to come into the clinic as frequently to stay up to date on their health.

At Omnia Telehealth, patients have access to virtual care specifically for long term condition management through structured telemedicine visits, remote patient monitoring, and coordinated care plans with their doctors.

Here’s how we can help you manage chronic conditions with virtual care.

How Virtual Care Can Help Manage Chronic Conditions

Chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease should be monitored regularly not just during occasional doctor’s appointments. Having a continuous way to touch base with your provider and share updates can help you and your doctor spot changes sooner and prevent unnecessary hospital visits.

When you combine online visits with digital tools that help you track your condition day to day, patients have more control and clinicians have more visibility into their current health.

Remote monitoring tools and connected technology

Today’s virtual care solutions include connected devices that can record and share your health information securely. From blood pressure cuffs and thermometers to glucose monitors and wearable devices like fitness trackers, patients can collect continuous data about their condition remotely from home.

These connected devices easily sync with digital applications so your clinician can view your time stamped information and assess your health. Medical history, medications, and recent trends are usually integrated with your electronic health record for easy access during appointments.

Tracking your health data in real time

Monitoring your condition and sharing that information with your doctor is only one part of the virtual care solution. The other valuable piece is having tools that can analyze your health data and flag unusual changes or patterns.

For chronic conditions that change slowly over time, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, virtual tools can alert your care team when your readings gradually begin to rise. Clinical decision making is improved with near real time access to patient data, and care can be adjusted more quickly.

Predictive tools use your baseline health data to identify potential risks.

Behavioral health factors

Many chronic conditions are affected by mental and behavioral health. Stress, anxiety, depression, and poor sleep can all have a negative impact on your condition.

Whether you are managing an autoimmune disease or a heart condition, virtual care allows for better self management by supporting behavioral health with counseling and other tools to improve your daily activities. Tracking mood, sleep patterns, and daily stress can help you and your clinician identify triggers for flare ups.

It’s important to care for mental and emotional wellbeing along with treating your physical symptoms.

Better treatment adherence

Taking medication regularly, getting enough sleep, and eating healthy are just a few of the ways you can better manage your condition. But remembering to take your medication, refill prescriptions, or logging symptoms can be difficult.

Virtual care allows for better adherence to treatment plans with reminders, refill alerts, and simplified communication with your healthcare team. Patients can quickly log symptoms, track their adherence, and receive virtual support when they need it.

Improves patient-provider communication

Virtual care encourages consistent communication with your healthcare team. Provide your clinician with context during each visit and they will have a better idea of your current condition. Keeping a log of symptoms leading up to your appointment will help you (and them!) stay organized and focused.

Online video visits allow for secure messaging so you can easily reach out between appointments if you have questions or concerns.

Tips for Managing Chronic Conditions with Virtual Care

• Stay consistent. Follow your treatment plan and keep track of symptoms.
• Be prepared for appointments. Having your health information and list of questions ready will help your clinician spend less time collecting data and more time advising you about your treatment options.
• Stay engaged. Connect with your care team regularly and take an active role in managing your condition.

Conclusion

There are many benefits to virtual care for chronic conditions. Not only does it allow for easier communication with your healthcare team, but it also provides tools for better self management. Improvements in treatment adherence and preventive care have also been linked to better outcomes and lower costs for patients who take an active role in their virtual care.

Contact Omnia Telehealth to learn more about virtual care for chronic conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is virtual care for chronic conditions?

Virtual care for chronic conditions includes telemedicine visits, remote monitoring, and digital tools that allow patients to manage long term health conditions.

Is telehealth effective for treating chronic conditions?

With virtual care, patients can manage many types of chronic conditions including diabetes, hypertension, COPD, heart disease, behavioral health conditions, and more.

What are some examples of remote patient monitoring devices?

Patients can use remote patient monitoring devices such as blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, weight scales, glucose monitors, and pulse oximeters at home to help track their health.

How does virtual care reduce hospital visits?

Virtual care helps reduce hospital visits by catching warning signs sooner. With virtual care patients can better manage their health and stay connected with their care team.

Is virtual care safe for my health information?

Yes, reputable virtual care providers use encrypted, secure platforms to protect your health information and follow industry leading standards for privacy.

How do I prepare for my virtual care appointment?

Before your appointment, write down any symptoms you’ve been experiencing along with current medications, any reading you’ve taken since your last appointment, and questions you have for your doctor.