Health technology is the new way of delivering healthcare services for people at high risk and for those who suffer from complex health conditions, mental health conditions, and the elderly. This article will refer to telehealth, remote monitoring, and patient portal as health technology.

Health technology offers people the ability to have access to vital signs monitoring, video calls with their doctor or nurse, and receive medical advice from the comfort of their home. However, it is important to keep in mind that no matter how great the technology is, people need to use it and be practical. According to AARP, the telehealth market went up from a $14.3 billion industry in 2013 to a $36.2 billion industry in 2020. The numbers will continue to increase as more practices will offer telehealth services and home monitoring. However, some people may experience a growing concern about the challenges due to different variables. How does education and socioeconomic status (SES) play a role in access to health technology? Would health technology become another Social Determinant of Health Indicator? There are probably many different opinions on this, but we need to stay tuned to what patients tell providers about their ability to access technology and know-how to use it. We run the risk that people will get the technical support and education on using the technology at first, then fade out and leave the most vulnerable population in limbo. There must be an engineered structure of how health technology education and support will be made available to those that need it.

Adapting a process to connect people with health technology is crucial; whether it is home monitoring, access, or telehealth visits, people need to know where to go for help and support. We need to see health technology as a potential solution to closing the gap in access to care, delivery of care, and monitoring, but it needs to be done in a conscious and structured manner; otherwise, it will become a more prominent barrier. Health technology should not be implemented because the number one reason is revenue increase or making the numbers look better, it should be done with the patient in mind, and taking into consideration what potential barriers people may have in utilizing an app that may be too complicated, or taking too many steps. In the end, it is all about patient-centered health technology.

Here are a few tips to help staff and the patients overcome the anxiety about health technology:

• Know the allowable billing rates for services provided using health technology
  (telehealth, home monitoring, clinical advice, etc.).
• Understand the needs and potential barriers (phone, computer, internet, private space, etc.) people may face daily.
• Assess the internal technology capabilities and potential needed enhancements.
• Develop workflows and processes before any health technology is implemented.
• Reassess implementations to identify any necessary changes.
• Create simple pictorial instructions for patients (available in multiple languages).
• Meet weekly with your implementation team to discuss any issues or successes.
• Develop a schedule for the frequency of checking with people’s comfort level. or if they have any questions.