Over the past two years, no other industry had been impacted as much by the pandemic as healthcare, which saw staff at breaking point and services stretched, to meet hospital patient and care resident needs. The pandemic exposed key areas for improvement in the care sector, and this is how technology companies including RingCentral have identified an opportunity for collaboration with care homes across the country, to best-serve carers and their patients.

Telemedicine solutions support those working in the healthcare sector, as well as patients

Telemedicine is allowing healthcare providers across the country to reimagine a tradition of in-home visits and support for care-home residents without travel and limitations. At RingCentral, we have seen the lives of those living in care homes be transformed by innovative new technologies that allow them to be monitored and assessed without requiring in-person visits, or unnecessary travel. Not only is this benefitting the residents of care facilities, and keeping them safe, but it is improving the operational efficiency of staff too, who can now support more people as they save time on travel, reduce personal safety risks and limit unnecessary visits.

Families of residents in care homes, the residents themselves, and care staff can also be reassured that with telemedicine solutions, all patient data is kept safe and secure as new technology provides end-to-end encryption. The care sector can no longer shy away from embracing digital transformation, and must integrate new products and services into their practices. By embracing technology, staff and care providers are able to maximise time with patients and residents as all clinical information is located in one central place, as opposed to relying upon legacy filing systems and outdated IT infrastructure.

Telemedicine technology offers care home residents more control over their healthcare 

Evidence also shows that attending, or being admitted to, a care setting can cause emotional distress, confusion and agitation to older individuals, which can lead to serious incidents like falls, infections and deconditioning. This is where telemedicine can bring multiple benefits to care homes. 

Telemedicine offers care home residents and patients a feeling of autonomy and freedom, without unnecessary intervention or in-person monitoring. This can empower residents to feel more in control of their lives and lead to less distress amongst residents and patients, ultimately benefiting both patients and care home staff. 

Moreover, research into staff satisfaction of telemedicine has found that a total of 76% of care felt that telemedicine increased flexibility and control over patient care activities, with 36% reporting improved work-life balance and 30% reporting improved burnout symptoms.

Comment from Louise Newbury-Smith, RingCentral's Country Manager for UK and Ireland