{"id":14228,"date":"2021-09-09T13:46:32","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T13:46:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.medicalbillersandcoders.com\/blog\/?p=14228"},"modified":"2025-08-22T10:02:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T10:02:30","slug":"scope-and-challenges-for-teleneurology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.medicalbillersandcoders.com\/blog\/scope-and-challenges-for-teleneurology\/","title":{"rendered":"Scope and Challenges for Teleneurology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Teleneurology Basics<\/span><\/h2>\n

Teleneurology uses real-time or delayed communication between neurologists and patients or neurologists and other providers through shared audio, video, secure messaging, and other data exchanges. It has been an essential tool in improving the health and quality of life of those restricted to quality neurological care. These restrictions on care are often due to geographic isolation. Here are some challenges for teleneurology, as well as some issues and limitations<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Certain areas lack a neurologist, or patients must travel long distances to receive care. Teleneurology has provided an outlet in which patients and physicians, although far apart, can communicate and be examined instantly. This is relevant for chronic conditions that require continuous follow-up or in emergencies, in which the administration of thrombolytic therapy in stroke, for example, is often needed within a short time to be effective.<\/span><\/p>\n

Teleneurology in COVID-19 Pandemic<\/span><\/h3>\n

As we enter the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals face increasing demand for neurology care against high costs and provider shortages. Besides their usual load of neurological emergencies, neurologists are treating an epidemic of COVID-19-related strokes in relatively young people. The pandemic has driven home the idea that neurologists don\u2019t need to be physically present to examine patients, make clear recommendations, support in-person providers, and be integral parts of care teams.<\/span><\/p>\n

In rural and underserved areas, there are restrictions in healthcare due to the lack of availability of neurologists; patients have to travel long distances to receive the required care. Because neurological conditions have significant mortality and disability rates, there is a need for innovative services like teleneurology. Adapting teleneurology is a powerful and creative way to enhance healthcare in areas with a shortage of specialists. Teleneurology can potentially reduce healthcare costs and hospitalization services, and improve multidisciplinary communication between different providers regarding the care for their patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

As detailed above, there are numerous times in which teleneurology has a positive impact. Excessive costs, for example, can be reduced from $140-180 for in-person acute care to about $40-50 for a telehealth session; neurology practices have found evidence of lowered patient out-of-pocket expenses and institutional cost savings with telehealth utilization. There are also reduced travel costs and travel times associated with teleneurology, high patient satisfaction, reduced geographical disparity for general and specialized neurological care, and more educational opportunities for physicians available. There are several benefits to widespread adoption of telemedicine for neurology, as well as a few challenges for teleneurology that must be overcome.<\/span><\/p>\n

Challenges for Teleneurology<\/span><\/h2>\n

For all the Challenges of Teleneurology, there are some issues and limitations.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n