September 3, 2019.
While the French medical profession is preparing to adopt telemedicine, which will be open to all and will be reimbursed as of September 15, 2018, a German study confirms its relevance in the follow-up of heart patients.
Regular follow-up means fewer hospital stays and lower mortality
For people with cardiovascular disease, daily monitoring, even if done remotely, is of utmost importance, confirms a German study. To reach this conclusion, the researchers followed 1,571 patients who had stayed in a hospital cardiology unit during the previous 12 months. Of these 1,571 patients, half were put on daily monitoring (self-measurement of vital signs with teletransmission of results to the doctor), while the other half could not benefit from this telemedicine device.
Result: over the next 12 months, patients who received remote follow-up spent an average of 17 days in hospital, while patients who did not receive remote follow-up spent 24 days. Same trend with regard to mortality: 7% of people who benefited from follow-up died during the following 12 months, compared to 11% of people who had not been followed.
Telemedicine arrives in France
In France, from September 15, 2018, patients will be able to consult doctors remotely (except gynecologist, psychiatrist, ophthalmologist and dentist). Teleconsultation will be billed as a consultation in an office, ie 25 euros for doctors approved in sector 1. Doctors remain free to offer or not teleconsultations.
The video call is made through an online platform accessible via an Internet browser, so no specific software is necessary. It is also in his personal space on this platform that the patient receives his prescription and a report of the consultation.
Anton Kunin
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