The Future of Health Care: Empty Hospitals – Catchy Title
This was the title of an article on Money Talks News: The Future of Health Care: Empty Hospitals? Certainly it’s a fantastic title, but is so far from the reality. If anything, it should say: The Future of Health Care: Empty Doctors Offices. When I think about all of the work that’s done in hospitals, it’s hard to imagine most of the work done there to happen outside of a hospital. Most hospital patients are there for a reason.
The same can’t be said for doctors offices. There is a good percentage of visits to a doctor’s office that could be done virtually. Certainly it’s no where near 100% of in person visits to the doctor that can be replaced, but it’s a much larger percentage than hospitals.
The ED is one area of the hospital that could be changed dramatically by telemedicine and other virtual office visits. Even then, it won’t leave the ED empty, but it could change how an ED is operated. In fact, we’re already seeing this today. I loved to hear about how the was used in EDs to do virtual visits with ED doctors at other hospitals. That’s a powerful concept.
Of course, Dr. Nick’s right that technology can prevent a lot of visits to the doctor. However, doctors and hospitals won’t have to worry about empty offices and hospitals anytime soon.
