As a practitioner in the special education sector, you are constantly seeking ways to enhance your skills and provide the best services to your students. One of the promising avenues to explore is telehealth. According to the research article, "Determining if Telehealth Can Reduce Health System Costs: Scoping Review," telehealth has the potential to bring about significant cost savings and productivity gains.
Key Takeaways from the Research
The study found that telehealth could reduce costs primarily by:
- Preventing health system-funded travel
- Mitigating the need for expensive procedural or specialist follow-ups
In addition, telehealth demonstrated potential for productivity gains through:
- Optimization of staff time
- Reduction in consultation times
- Substitution of in-person consultations with asynchronous methods
Implementing Telehealth in Your Practice
Here are some practical steps to implement telehealth and reap its benefits:
- Start Small: Begin with a pilot program focusing on one area, such as speech therapy.
- Train Your Staff: Ensure that all staff members are comfortable using telehealth platforms.
- Monitor and Evaluate: Keep track of the outcomes and gather feedback to continually improve the service.
Encouraging Further Research
While the study highlights the benefits of telehealth, it also emphasizes the need for more research. As practitioners, you can contribute by documenting your experiences and sharing your findings with the broader community.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Determining if Telehealth Can Reduce Health System Costs: Scoping Review
