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Telemedicine isn't the future; it's the present. Since the health emergency caused by COVID-19, remote care has become a typical tool. Despite bringing benefits such as reduced operating costs, greater accessibility for patients and even more personalized care, telemedicine also presents challenges. The distant modality and the use of technologies can turn this practice into an obstacle and divert medical care from its true purpose: to improve the patient's life.
Some professionals believe that remote medicine can be dehumanizing. This is especially worrying in teleradiology, as the doctor interprets images asynchronously and rarely interacts with the patient in real time. If the unique aspects of these situations are not considered, there is a risk of producing mistrust in the patient and limiting the quality of the medical care they receive.
It is necessary to create strategies to focus the patient on remote radiology and adapt current practices to new forms of digital interaction. This involves action, not only by doctors and health institutions, but also by providers of medical technology systems. That's why at Eden we build platforms for teleradiology around three fundamental vectors: autonomy, privacy and accessibility.
Autonomy
It is crucial to prevent the patient from returning the object of radiology, rather than its objective. Since the process of sending and interpreting the image happens independently of the patient, the patient may feel like “just another number” in the radiologist's daily life.
Effective communication is key to empowering the patient again: strategies such as explaining the dynamics of remote interpretation beforehand, offering digital follow-up through appointment reminders and using daily contact channels, such as WhatsApp, minimize patient reticence while reaffirming the doctor's commitment to their health. The submission of digital results in Eden PACS also helps to build this trust, as they offer patients the freedom to view their medical studies from the place of their choice. Thus, the individual is able to take power over their own health.
Privacy
Sometimes uncertainty does not arise from the teleradiology process, but from the channels that are used to carry it out. Many patients are used to hearing about insecure networks, Hacking and other cyber threats, which would naturally make them suspicious of online healthcare. That's why it's essential for us that all Eden platforms comply with strict confidentiality and data protection regulations: for example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as corresponding certifications from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Equally important is to make this fact visible for the patient's peace of mind. This includes laying firm foundations on who has access to a patient's medical record, constantly updating information security systems, and creating strong alliances with referring physicians to create a secure digital space. Thus, it is possible not only to protect the patient's privacy, but also to give them the freedom to provide clinical information without risk, for more accurate and personalized care.
Accessibility
Using accessible technology can make the difference between excellent health care and one that excludes the patient. This is particularly true for patients with limited access to electronic devices, as well as older or disabled patients, who often require support to operate digital platforms.
For this reason, any teleradiology strategy must consider methods to approach and familiarize the patient with new care modalities. It is vital that patient interaction platforms are friendly and adapted to everyday devices, such as smartphones or laptops. From scheduling appointments to sending results, we believe that technology should be accessible both economically and at the user experience level. It is this maxim that guides the design of our user interface.
Teleradiology is a method that offers new opportunities to bring quality medical care to patients around the world. Furthermore, to implement it properly, it is necessary to consider the challenges it presents in terms of humane treatment. Institutions, doctors and especially telehealth technologies must place the patient at the center of their operations and establish strong regulations on bioethics, cybersecurity and accessibility, in order to guarantee decent medical care. Our passion is to create a safe, fluid and friendly ecosystem that allows us to contact the human dimension of the medical service. By making current practice more flexible and adapted, it is possible to reduce the distance imposed by digital barriers and turn it into a catalyst for progress.
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