The Top 5 Specialties Thriving With Telehealth

The COVID-19 pandemic altered many aspects of our lives, healthcare delivery being a major one. In fact, overall telehealth usage surged 78 times higher than normal levels when the pandemic hit the United States. Regular office visits decreased significantly with some areas shutting down completely. The virus opened a door in healthcare that won’t be shut anytime soon. Telehealth.

The benefits that telehealth brings to the field are undeniable, especially for a handful of medical specialty areas that are thriving with it. We put together a list of the top 5 specialties maximizing telehealth care delivery to better serve their patients.

This list was compiled from a variety of trusted articles, research and our own expertise in the telehealth space. Let’s dive in!

Psychiatry

​Telepsychiatry is becoming increasingly more popular among patients and mental health providers alike. Experts in the mental health space are estimating that in the next five years, 8 out of 10 mental health visits will happen virtually. This can be attributed to the many benefits that it provides, including:

• Improved access for Americans

• Reduced physician shortage

• Comfortable setting for patients

• 24/7 Access to medical attention

• Streamlines ongoing communication & monitoring

These benefits have created a promising outlook for the future of mental and behavioral health care. Furthermore, according to the American Psychiatric Association, “there is substantial evidence of the effectiveness of telepsychiatry and research has found satisfaction to be high among patients, psychiatrists and other professionals”.

There is so much more to cover in this specialty, so we did just that. Check out our deep dive into the virtual mental health care industry in our blog >> Check it out.

Radiology

You read that right, radiology is one of the leading telehealth specialties in the United States. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), 39.5% of radiologists use telemedicine regularly. Now, it isn’t the typical telehealth you think of where the patient and provider meet virtually. The telehealth that the radiology specialty uses connects providers to each other and allows them to communicate efficiently about the patient.

Teleradiology is especially helpful for rural communities. Many rural areas don’t have access to a radiology specialist, so it allows emergency room or primary care providers to take those images and scans and send them to specialists using telehealth technology to read them and provide a diagnosis.

Emergency medicine

Emergency medicine is a specialty that requires diagnoses and decisions to be made as quickly as possible. But oftentimes specialists need to be pulled in to make an accurate patient care plan. Telehealth provides emergency medicine providers easy and quick access to specialists whenever needed.

Much like radiology, emergency medical professionals have taken full advantage of the accessibility telehealth gives them. With access to specialists nationwide, patients are receiving better care and more accurate diagnoses and treatments when entering the ER.

Primary care

With the pandemic still prominent in our lives, it is becoming increasingly popular for patients to see their primary care doctor virtually. Many patients don’t want to come into the doctor’s office if they don’t have to, especially if they have newborns, a preexisting condition or are elderly. Telehealth makes that easy.

Being able to see your doctor with a click of a button eliminates any risk of exposure to illnesses. It also prevents patients from spreading their illness to others. Illnesses that are easily diagnosable virtually, such as the common cold or the seasonal flu, are driving more and more patients to choose virtual care.

It also allows providers to see more patients in a day with more flexible hours. If a provider is seeing a patient virtually and they require more information or a test to accurately diagnose, they can recommend they come into the office.

Cardiology

Telecardiology is making it possible for providers to detect cardiac issues early on and reduce the number of follow-up visits in patients who have already been diagnosed with a cardiac illness. How is telehealth doing this for the cardiology specialty? Through the use of remote patient monitoring devices.

Remote patient monitoring devices allow cardiac specialists to constantly monitor their at-risk patients. These devices constantly record and report arrhythmia and vital signs of the patients to their cardiac specialist. This has been a game changer for cardiology and has improved the care outcomes of the patients with these conditions.

Powering 30+ Specialities

That about covers it! The psychiatry, radiology, emergency medicine, primary care and cardiology specialties are thriving in this new and booming world of telehealth. Easier access to care and improved outcomes are driving more and more patients to seek virtual care when available.

What does this mean? More and more job opportunities are opening for healthcare professionals to practice via telehealth. Looking for positions in telehealth? We’ve got you covered! Join the OpenLoop network for top paying jobs with leading telehealth companies across the US.

The OpenLoop network is comprised of top clinicians like you! From physicians to nurse practitioners to therapists and specialists, we personally match you with clinician advocates who will understand your passions, motivators and skill sets to pair you with telehealth companies who value the same. Our mission is to give you back control of your career, while allowing you to do work you’re proud of and excited about.

What perks do you get from joining the OpenLoop network?

• Full job transparency: You get to see the job details and payment information before you accept the position so you know exactly what you are signing up for!

• Control over your schedule: You have complete control over your schedule. You decide what days and hours you are available to work and we find shifts that match.

• Knowledge growth: On top of finding top telehealth jobs, you will grow your knowledge and learn the ins and outs of the telehealth industry to further your career.

Sound like something you are interested in? Apply to join the OpenLoop network!

For Companies

Are you a digital health company looking for clinicians to fill shifts and treat your patients? Let’s connect! Partnering with OpenLoop gives you access to our vast clinician network of over 6,500 fully-vetted clinicians. Not only do we give you access to our network of ready-to-work clinicians, but we also learn your values, culture and patient needs to match you with clinicians that fit your company perfectly.

There’s more… If you need help with the back office challenges that come with launching and scaling your telehealth services, we got you covered! We can take care of MSOs and PC Groups, multi-state licensing, certified credentialing, EHR, scheduling, payroll and SO much more.

Interested in learning more about OpenLoop and what we can do to fit your needs? Check out our website!