{"id":11608,"date":"2020-09-03T11:00:42","date_gmt":"2020-09-03T10:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/?p=11608"},"modified":"2023-01-17T10:25:46","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T10:25:46","slug":"telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/what-is-telemedicine\/\">Telemedicine<\/a> has its roots in the United States. It was originally designed to provide better medical care to rural communities. However, the benefits go beyond this and it\u2019s slowly begun to be recognised worldwide. With the potential to save the NHS <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pharmaphorum.com\/news\/telehealth-could-save-nhs-england-7-5bn\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a37.5 billion<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as well as an expected <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pharmaphorum.com\/news\/digital-health-market-to-top-379bn-by-2024\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">27.7% compound annual growth rate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (CAGR), it\u2019s no wonder it\u2019s a hot topic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, despite the majority of adults in the UK using the internet, only 2% of the population had undertaken a digitally enabled transaction with the NHS. Clearly, there\u2019s a lot of room for telemedicine providers to move into the market &#8211; and with Covid-19 forcing the hands of many medical practices, now is the time.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11631\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11631\" style=\"width: 531px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11631 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/digital-technology-jpg-560\u00d71584-.png\" alt=\"digital-technology-jpg-560\u00d71584-\" width=\"531\" height=\"272\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/digital-technology-jpg-560\u00d71584-.png 531w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/digital-technology-jpg-560\u00d71584--300x154.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 531px) 100vw, 531px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11631\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk\/chart\/infographic-the-world-of-digital-health-in-numbers\">Image source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What is Telemedicine?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/what-is-telemedicine\/\">Telemedicine<\/a> is a small part of a wider field, known as telehealth. Whilst telehealth covers everything involving healthcare and technology, telemedicine is more focused. Specifically, it\u2019s the digital provision of clinical services to patients. Telemedicine covers:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Real-time consultations through text, phone calls, or <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/video-conferencing-101\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">video conferencing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asynchronous (or store-to-forward) evaluations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medical imaging being transmitted to specialists elsewhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prescriptions without in-person appointments.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Telemedicine and telehealth are sometimes used interchangeably &#8211; and there are a few things that are sometimes counted as telemedicine, and sometimes fit under the broader banner of telehealth. These are things like:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remote patient monitoring.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online therapy or rehabilitation appointments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medical alert systems (usually considered to be its own field, telecare).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For simplicity, we\u2019ll be using telemedicine to refer to the narrower definition, but may occasionally touch on other aspects of telehealth as many providers have a broad scope.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11619 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-11-2.png\" alt=\"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry-56\" width=\"1902\" height=\"1999\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-11-2.png 1902w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-11-2-285x300.png 285w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-11-2-640x673.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-11-2-768x807.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-11-2-1461x1536.png 1461w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-11-2-24x24.png 24w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1902px) 100vw, 1902px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.deloitte.com\/uk\/en\/insights\/industry\/health-care\/virtual-health-care-health-consumer-and-physician-surveys.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Introduction to Telemedicine Providers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even with this narrower definition, there\u2019s a variety of <a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/established-telemedicine-providers\/\">different telemedicine providers<\/a>, all responsible for different services. Firstly, there are two kinds of ways these providers can work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. Provide to the NHS\/private practices.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some telemedicine providers provide their services to the NHS or private practices. This way they don\u2019t need to provide the expertise of medical professionals, just the infrastructure. One of these telemedicine companies is medio.link. Their services include MDT rooms, virtual clinics, and a service that handles 40,000 calls a year between a Digital Nursing Hub and over 600 residential and nursing homes throughout the UK.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. Provide direction to the public.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alternatively, they can provide virtual care directly to patients. This usually comes in the form of apps, websites, or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/office\/industry-solutions\/healthcare-cloud-phone-systems.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">smart technology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, it\u2019s often still linked to the existing network of NHS and private doctors. One such example is Push Doctor, which links patients with available healthcare professionals. They provide a platform for patients to digitally connect with their GP and receive remote care after registering online through video consultations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11618 size-large\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-10-2-640x406.png\" alt=\"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry-433\" width=\"640\" height=\"406\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-10-2-640x406.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-10-2-300x190.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-10-2-768x487.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-10-2.png 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Broadly speaking, those are the main two categories of provider &#8211; those who interact only with healthcare providers, and those who interact with both healthcare providers and patients.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>State of The Industry<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The state of UK telemedicine is very different from the US. With the US, regulations vary by state, and healthcare services are impacted by what medicare will cover. This means that often, primary care can only be offered to people in certain locations (usually rural areas) or for certain reasons (if they\u2019re elderly or unable to leave the house). However, the UK has a very different system.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<div class=\"cta-banner  CID-2FdM5dTp IID-6a0b29dbd7667\"\r\n\t\tdata-dl-custom-type=\"ctaButton\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"cta-banner-img-wrap\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cta-banner-img\" style=\"background-image:url(\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/telemedicine-meeting.jpg)\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"cta-body\" data-dl-custom-type=\"ctaButton\">\r\n\t\t\t<span class=\"cta-sub-heading\">Healthcare cloud phone systems<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"cta-heading\">Cloud business communications for healthcare<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t<p>Optimise patient interactions with the secure and reliable cloud business communications and collaboration solution.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<a class=\"rc-cta-shortcode btn btn-primary btn-lg\" data-dl-element=\"button\"\r\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/office\/industry-solutions\/healthcare-cloud-phone-systems.html\" class=\"btn btn-primary\"\r\n\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-dl-additional-info=\"Cloud business communications for healthcare\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-dl-name=\"Cloud business communications for healthcare | Learn more\">Learn more<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most people in the UK are registered with an NHS GP. Some people may also have private health insurance, or opt to go private for certain medical services. This means that any providers need to understand the NHS system and how to work either within or alongside it. It also means patients have certain expectations that they\u2019ll expect to be met.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, the big factor in this field at the moment is the impact of coronavirus. Many doctors have been forced to go remote purely because of the pandemic, and don\u2019t necessarily have the infrastructure in place to support it. This forced acceleration into adopting virtual care platforms may well have a long term impact as more patients and professionals grow used to it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11620 size-1536x1536\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-12-2-1536x1320.png\" alt=\"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry-119\" width=\"840\" height=\"722\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-12-2-1536x1320.png 1536w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-12-2-300x258.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-12-2-640x550.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-12-2-768x660.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-12-2.png 1999w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-england-52216222\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you can see above, before February 2020 only 0.6% of appointments were online. However, according to the BBC, \u201cGPs are seeing just seven in every 100 patients face-to-face because of the coronavirus outbreak\u201d &#8211; meaning 93% of appointments are now online or via a phone call. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/video.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Video visits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are certainly new house calls.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One big question about the practicality of telehealth is can providers do telemedicine from home? Some telemedicine services focus on connecting patients to hubs &#8211; like medio.link\u2019s digital nursing hub, or rural patients connecting to their local hospital. However, Covid-19 has led to a shift in this pattern, with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bma.org.uk\/advice-and-support\/covid-19\/adapting-to-covid\/covid-19-video-consultations-and-homeworking\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote consultations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> becoming the standard. With many GPs taking phone appointments from their homes, and only accepting in-person patients for urgent or more complex issues, it may well set a precedent for how virtual care will continue in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Technology at Play<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Telemedicine involves a lot of different types of technology. Some telemedicine companies focus on one specific aspect, others have a much broader scope. We\u2019ll take a look at some of the main technologies at play in this field.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. Video conferencing.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main thing that people think of when they think of telemedicine services is the \u2018doctor on-demand\u2019 kind of idea &#8211; one where you can virtually see a doctor through your smartphone or computer as you need. For this to be effective, the video chat needs to be <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/how-to-run-healthcare-practice\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as high-quality as possible<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It\u2019s vital that any visual symptoms can be conveyed clearly &#8211; especially if the appointment is regarding something small, like a mole.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s also an added level of security needed, as the contents of the call need to remain confidential. Whilst in the US the concerns revolve around HIPAA, it\u2019s not quite the same in the UK. The NHS has certain standards that need to be met, or exceeded, in order to be HSCN (Health and Social Care Network) compliant. However, in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, there are some concessions being made.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The BMA (British Medical Association) states in their <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bma.org.uk\/advice-and-support\/covid-19\/adapting-to-covid\/covid-19-video-consultations-and-homeworking\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">guidance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: \u201cCommercial products&#8230;can be considered where you urgently need to have a video consultation with a patient and if alternative channels are not available.\u201d They go on to state that the risk of no consultation should be weighed against the risk of using these alternatives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11616 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-8-2.png\" alt=\"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry-198\" width=\"1042\" height=\"939\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-8-2.png 1042w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-8-2-300x270.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-8-2-640x577.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-8-2-768x692.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1042px) 100vw, 1042px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmc-uk.org\/ethical-guidance\/ethical-hub\/remote-consultations\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. Phone consultations.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not everyone has an <a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/ultimate-guide-to-broadband-for-your-home-office\/\">internet connection<\/a> capable of maintaining a video call, so <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/solutions\/office\/call.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">phone calls<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> remain a vital part of communication. Many practices have offered telephone appointments for some time &#8211; whether that\u2019s for people who can\u2019t physically access the practice or medication checkups that don\u2019t require a physical assessment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the way these have been done isn\u2019t standardised between practices, and often involves a process very similar to in-person appointments. It often means calling up to book an appointment, being told a time period it will happen between, and then waiting to receive a call. This brings us on to our next relevant technology&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>3. Scheduling software.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Telemedicine has the potential to move away from the conventional method of either phoning in to book through a receptionist or turning up and waiting between certain hours for reserved slots. Instead, by taking advantage of scheduling software, patients can book themselves into the diary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scheduling software displays which slots are available for the doctor you wish to see, and allows you to book in. This is similar to the technology used in other fields like booking hairdresser appointments. It can also be used to show you which doctors are available immediately, which is great for patients who aren\u2019t looking for a particular practitioner and would just like a quick appointment or urgent care. It\u2019s important to build in break times or accommodate longer appointments, as remote work can lead to <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/biggest-productivity-killer-burnout\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">burnout<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from those who aren\u2019t used to it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>4. SMS reminders and results.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rather than relying on emails and phone calls, more practices have moved towards SMS reminders. This is especially useful when used alongside scheduling software, as patients can leave the best phone number and opt-in to reminders. DNAs (did not attend) are a huge concern for many practices, and SMS reminders help reduce these. Currently, studies are being undertaken on the best phrasing for these reminders, with a mention of the associated cost seeming to be the best method.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11610 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-2-4.png\" alt=\"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry-401\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-2-4.png 960w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-2-4-300x200.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-2-4-640x427.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-2-4-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/reducing-missed-hospital-appointments-using-text-messages\/a-zero-cost-way-to-reduce-missed-hospital-appointments\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image source<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SMS also provides a quick and easy way for people to receive test results. This has benefits for efficiency &#8211; people waiting on results don\u2019t have to make time for a call &#8211; and security, as leaving a text message can be just as secure (if not more) as a voicemail.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>5. Electronic prescriptions.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there are already some systems in place for electronic prescriptions, they\u2019re spotty and vary depending on your practice. Some pharmacies will only accept paper prescriptions, and some rely on you physically handing it in, rather than it being delivered to them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11613 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-5-3.png\" alt=\"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry-174\" width=\"980\" height=\"653\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-5-3.png 980w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-5-3-300x200.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-5-3-640x426.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-5-3-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hsj.co.uk\/supplement-archive\/survey-funding-pressures-are-holding-up-the-paperless-nhs\/5090981.article\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Part of the difficulty of providing electronic prescriptions is that it requires buy-in from the pharmacies as well as the practices. Luckily, they\u2019re becoming more common, and so are electronic pharmacies. Pharmacy2U is one great example of this, especially for repeat prescriptions. Patients can request the medication from the pharmacy, who requests it from the GP, who checks it over and then posts it out. Other pharmacies, such as Boots, have implemented similar services.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<div class=\"cta-banner  CID-2FdM5dTp IID-6a0b29dbd7691\"\r\n\t\tdata-dl-custom-type=\"ctaButton\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"cta-banner-img-wrap\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cta-banner-img\" style=\"background-image:url(\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/nhs-professionals.jpg)\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"cta-body\" data-dl-custom-type=\"ctaButton\">\r\n\t\t\t<span class=\"cta-sub-heading\">Press release<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"cta-heading\">NHS Professionals Selects RingCentral\u2019s Cloud Communications Solutions to Support Digital Transformation Initiatives<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t<p>RingCentral cloud solutions enable remote working and enhance customer engagement<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<a class=\"rc-cta-shortcode btn btn-primary btn-lg\" data-dl-element=\"button\"\r\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/whyringcentral\/company\/pressreleases\/nhs-professionals-selects-ringcentral-s-cloud-communications.html\" class=\"btn btn-primary\"\r\n\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-dl-additional-info=\"NHS Professionals Selects RingCentral\u2019s Cloud Communications Solutions to Support Digital Transformation Initiatives\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-dl-name=\"NHS Professionals Selects RingCentral\u2019s Cloud Communications Solutions to Support Digital Transformation Initiatives | Read more\">Read more<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t\n<h3><strong>6. Secure store and forward capabilities.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/netstorage.ringcentral.com\/infographics\/ringcentral-five-winning-strategies-for-healthcare-communications-infographic.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asynchronous consultations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are incredibly important for a lot of patients, especially when it comes to ongoing conditions. They\u2019re often used to pass information from the patient to the GP, and the GP to a specialist. For instance, a patient is experiencing a rash. The GP asked them to photograph it and send it through. Once they receive the photograph, they realise they don\u2019t recognise it, and so they forward it to a dermatologist.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11611 size-large\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-3-6-640x427.png\" alt=\"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry-440\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-3-6-640x427.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-3-6-300x200.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-3-6-768x512.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-3-6.png 1050w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This would be incredibly difficult to schedule in real-time. Store and forward allows the patient to take the photograph in their own time, the GP to view it when they\u2019re available, and the dermatologist to do the same. It also means that patients don\u2019t have to spend time travelling to specialists unless they need a physical examination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to the fact that it does contain confidential medical information, this has similar <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/protect-your-comms-security-checklist-choosing-uc-vendor\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">security requirements<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to video conferencing &#8211; with the added complication of storing the data.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>7. Secure access to patient medical records.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medical providers need to access patient records. Unless patients have opted out, their GP will have something known as a \u2018summary care record\u2019 (SCR), designed to avoid prescription errors and increase safety of care in other settings. This medical record includes (at least):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Current medication<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allergies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Previous bad reactions to medication<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Name<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Address<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Date of birth<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NHS number<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can also include long-term conditions, important medical history, and notes about communication methods. The current situation means it also includes any Covid-19 based details like shielding and testing status.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Telemedicine providers need to have secure access to at least the SCR and ideally full records in order to be able to provide care. For doctors and pharmacists <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/is-remote-work-the-new-normal\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">working remotely<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, this means that those records must only be accessed securely and not stored. This is where VPN tokens, remote access, and other technologies come into play. The best telemedicine providers will be clear about how they access the data, how it\u2019s stored, and what happens with it if you leave their care.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>8. Machine learning for remote patient monitoring.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned earlier, sometimes remote patient monitoring falls under the general banner of telehealth, and sometimes it\u2019s counted as telemedicine. We\u2019ve included it here because it has some incredibly interesting technological links &#8211; in particular, the possible interactions with AI and machine learning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11621 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-13-2.png\" alt=\"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry-476\" width=\"712\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-13-2.png 712w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-13-2-300x169.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-13-2-640x360.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-13-2-250x140.png 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthcareitnews.com\/news\/3-charts-show-where-artificial-intelligence-making-impact-healthcare-right-now\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remote patient monitoring usually involves one of two things &#8211; the gathered data being sent to the doctor directly to look through or being sent to a team to look for anomalies to flag up. However, machine learning has the potential to reduce this extra busywork by registering anomalies and alerting healthcare professionals. While this is a developing field &#8211; machine learning <a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/the-ultimate-guide-to-online-telemedicine-courses\/\">requires training<\/a> from large datasets &#8211; it\u2019s one that we should expect to grow quickly as AI capabilities improve.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Telemedicine Providers Who Are Disrupting The Industry<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>1. accuRx.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Originally focused on SMS messaging for healthcare providers, accuRx stepped up to help out during the Covid-19 pandemic. They built a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/video.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">video calling system<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> quickly and provided it to clinics throughout the country. Thus allowing them to quickly open up online appointments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The telehealth providers are trusted by 95% of NHS GP practices, which meant they could roll this out for free incredibly quickly. They also designed it to be able to work within pre-existing clinical systems, which makes it much easier to make use of. It\u2019s even being used by specialists in the same hospital building, avoiding unnecessary contamination between departments.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. EMIS.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emis offers a lot of different products, including a mobile version of their core telemedicine platform, EMIS web. EMIS web can be used to manage patients, schedule appointments, and generate detailed reports. One of the service provider\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emishealth.com\/insights\/case-studies\/improving-primary-care-access-for-40-more-patients-each-day\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">case studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is Wingate Medical Centre in Liverpool, where the implementation of their software led to an increase in helping 40% more patients a day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They\u2019ve also provided a template of care for coronavirus, designed by medical professionals to improve the primary care pathways people access. This quick response to the emergent situation will likely encourage increased use of their software.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11614 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-6-3.png\" alt=\"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry-466\" width=\"580\" height=\"162\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emisnow.com\/csm?id=kb_article_view&amp;sysparm_article=KB0064507&amp;sys_kb_id=ad955964db6a10509aa4641d0b9619c5&amp;spa=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>3.0TPP.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While accuRx and EMIS are designed for healthcare professionals, TPP provides a patient-facing app, Airmid. It\u2019s designed to enable online appointment bookings, access to patient records, and order repeat medication. There\u2019s also a web browser-based alternative patient portal, SystmOnline. When linked to their other software such as SystmOne, it provides a comprehensive solution to patient management and helps develop treatment plans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SystemOne has been operational for around 20 years, meaning it has a lot of data. Their goal is to provide everyone in the healthcare system access to single shared Electronic Health Records (EHR), allowing for effective patient care. Since this can be accessed anywhere, it works well with telemedicine as it doesn\u2019t rely on being based in a physical location.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>4. Immedicare.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Born out of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and Involve Visual Collaboration Ltd, Immedicare works specifically with care homes. They have a central digitally accessible hub that takes video calls from and stays in touch with care homes throughout the UK. The hub has a full clinical team with specialists from various fields, including emergency, community, and end of life care.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11622 size-large\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-14-2-640x608.png\" alt=\"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry-278\" width=\"640\" height=\"608\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-14-2-640x608.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-14-2-300x285.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-14-2-768x730.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-14-2-24x24.png 24w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-14-2.png 1382w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/immedicare.co.uk\/our-support\/immedicare_infographic_circle_1\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Immedicare aims to reduce A &amp; E and GP visits for care home residents while providing the same level of healthcare. One of their <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/immedicare.co.uk\/headingley-hall-case-study\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">case studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Headingley Hall in Leeds, noted that in a single month they avoided 14 hospital admissions due to using these telehealth services. Such success could make a big difference to public health.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>5. Push Doctor.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another patient-facing app, Push Doctor provides video consultations between GPs and patients &#8211; their model is set up around the doctor on demand concept. In essence, virtual visits replace traditional appointments. They\u2019re regulated by the Care Quality Commission and received the UK\u2019s first \u2018good\u2019 rating in digital healthcare. They\u2019re not designed as a replacement for a local GP, as patients remain registered with their local GP practice and can use Push Doctor alongside it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, Push Doctor is only available to patients whose GP practices have agreed to use it &#8211; potentially limiting how many people will have access to it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>6. GP at Hand.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GP at Hand, previously known as Babylon, is disrupting UK healthcare in a more unusual way than those above. In order to use it, you have to deregister from your local GP practice. This means moving your care entirely online to their teladocs, though they do provide physical assessments at certain locations in London and Birmingham. Their app also provides an AI-powered symptom checker, designed to triage without requiring human contact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11609 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-1-3.png\" alt=\"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry-127\" width=\"700\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-1-3.png 700w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-1-3-300x214.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-1-3-640x457.png 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/b981c07c-7e0f-11e9-81d2-f785092ab560\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They currently have over 75,000 patients registered. That\u2019s something which has raised a lot of questions for the NHS funding model, as they are based in one particular area despite being an online app. There\u2019s a lot of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gponline.com\/nhs-england-pledges-21m-bailout-ccg-hosting-gp-hand\/article\/1586485\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">debate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over how this model may work in the future. This, combined with the way it was initially unclear that you had to leave your local GP and the extended registration time, has made it the centre of some controversy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>7. Skin Analytics.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Somewhere between telemedicine and the more general telehealth field is Skin Analytics. This is very different from the above, as it uses a custom-designed AI. They&#8217;ve partnered with some private healthcare providers &#8211; Vitality members can get skin check kits, and Superdrug is piloting an in-store checking service.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) is working on a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uhb.nhs.uk\/news\/uhb-and-skin-analytics-pilot-ai-skin-cancer-community-assessment-service.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">collaboration<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with them. This pilot study will involve patients capturing images of skin lesions, while AI technology triages them to determine which are safe and which need priority investigation by a dermatologist. Should this pilot prove successful, you can expect to see a widespread adaptation of this technology within the NHS.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Future of Telemedicine\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With Covid-19 showing that the answer to \u2018can providers do <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/office\/industry-solutions\/healthcare-cloud-phone-systems.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">telemedicine from home<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2019 is a resounding yes, it looks like the adoption of telehealth services is set to grow. We know that over <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/384650\/NIB_Report.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">96%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of NHS GP practices have digital clinical record systems in place, meaning at a basic level the infrastructure is there to build upon. Patients seem willing to make use of telemedicine services, with the NHS 111 service having a huge volume of calls.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11617 size-large\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-9-3-640x360.png\" alt=\"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry-97\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-9-3-640x360.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-9-3-300x169.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-9-3-768x432.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-9-3-250x140.png 250w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-9-3.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NHSDigital\/status\/1293506276257943552\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the slow implementation of telemedicine pre-coronavirus does show there\u2019s a lot of work to be done. Implementing new technologies always comes with pushback, and sourcing funding, training, and simply time to adopt new methods may cause health professionals to tread more carefully.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Something that could hold back telemedicine is the hardware necessary to work remotely. Whether it\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/voip-phones\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP phones<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, laptops, or even internet access, these are extra expenses that the NHS will need to find the money for &#8211; and this is where private practices may have the edge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It seems likely that phone and video consultations will remain popular after the pandemic fades, along with more electronic pharmacies. The worry is that many will be content with this level, and won\u2019t continue to push for new improvements. Luckily, pilot programs like UHB\u2019s collaboration with Skin Analytics should provide peer-reviewed evidence as to the effectiveness of such technology, which should lead to increased investment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other aspects of telehealth may well also come to the fore. With apps like Calm and Betterhelp providing virtual therapeutic solutions, we may see an increased application of telepsychiatry in the field of mental health. Behavioral health issues or more complex mental disorders may still require in-patient treatment, but it\u2019s possible online therapy services will become more common to deal with the shortage of local services. Equally, remote patient monitoring may reduce the need for regular clinical follow-up or check-ins for patients with chronic illness.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As it stands, telemedicine is on the cusp of being fully adopted. The coronavirus forcibly accelerated healthcare professionals into using it, and this could pay off with it continuing after the pandemic calms down.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11612 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-4-4.png\" alt=\"digital-technology-jpg-560\u00d71584-\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-4-4.png 1050w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-4-4-300x200.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-4-4-640x427.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry-4-4-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1050px) 100vw, 1050px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US has a much more varied healthcare map, with services differing between states and medicare provision. This means there\u2019s a greater range of telehealth services available. Most services getting off the ground in the UK need to work within or alongside NHS provisions, which does put some restrictions on what they can do. This isn\u2019t inherently a bad thing &#8211; it encourages a certain level of <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/keeping-your-communication-secure\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">security<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and effectiveness &#8211; but it does mean the marketplace is different.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The real industry disruptors will be those who change the face of how diagnostics work &#8211; Skin Analytics DERM AI looks particularly promising here &#8211; or how registering for medical practices operates. With the ability to register with teledocs, it may well mean that local GPs become more focused on complex cases. Simpler appointments, meanwhile, like checkups or repeat prescription requests, move to an online hub.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; line-height: 30px;\">Get details on the security and trust built into RingCentral products and services.<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/whyringcentral\/company\/pressreleases\/nhs-professionals-selects-ringcentral-s-cloud-communications.html\"><span class=\"text-center\" style=\"display: block;\" data-dtm-element=\"button\" data-dtm-context=\"bottom-cta\" data-dtm-additional-info=\"Get the guide\">See NHS Professionals Case Study<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Telemedicine has its roots in the United States. It was originally designed to provide better medical care to rural communities. However, the benefits go beyond this and it\u2019s slowly begun &hellip; <a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":244,"featured_media":15909,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-content-hub.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[201],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Telemedicine involves a lot of different types of technology. Some telemedicine providers focus on one specific aspect, others have a much broader scope. We\u2019ll take a look at some of the main technologies at play in this field.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/blog\/telemedicine-providers-who-are-disrupting-the-industry\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"RingCentral Team\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"18 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Telemedicine Providers who are Disrupting the Industry","description":"Telemedicine involves a lot of different types of technology. Some telemedicine providers focus on one specific aspect, others have a much broader scope. 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