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Heart disease is still the number one killer in the USA, which of course everyone has heard a multitude of times by now. No category of disease affects the lives of Americans more than cardiovascular disease, which still causes one out of every three deaths in our country. Additionally, 92.1 million Americans live with some form of cardiovascular disease or the after-effects of a stroke.

In addition to the staggering loss of life, there’s a financial impact. Directly and indirectly, this form of illness costs a combined $316 billion per year.

Clearly, as physicians, we want to see huge improvements in the cardiovascular health of patients across the country. We hope that people will move for an hour per day, eat heart-healthy whole foods and plant-based meals at least some of the time.

As telemedicine providers, though, we know there are specific ways that our practice can improve the outcomes, both short- and long-term, for our current cardiovascular disease patients. Telehealth, which is a way for us to connect with patients remotely, can reduce the cost of healthcare to patients and insurers, as well as providing patients (especially those who cannot access the specialty care they need) with an accessible way to follow up with us.

The evidence is clear: access to cardiovascular rehabilitation improves patient outcomes by reducing the risk of further cardiovascular events. However, as of this writing, only ⅓ of eligible patients engage with this vital treatment modality. Studies which have examined the impact of new communication avenues, especially telemedicine, suggests that this technology increases both patient access and patient adherence to suggested treatment plans.

If you or someone you love is a cardiovascular patient, what does all of this mean for you? How do you know if telemedicine is right for you?

Telemedicine Is the Simplest Way To Manage Chronic Disease

Having a disease like cardiovascular disease, with its range of effects on the human body, is (to put it mildly) a major inconvenience. However, frequent trips to the doctor for checkups doesn’t have to be one of them. Instead,  you can simply schedule a time to sit down with your computer or tablet and chat with one of our doctors with the push of a button. Imagine: just like home visits in years gone by, you could avoid driving to the office, parking lot frustrations, and the long wait in the doctor’s office, yet still have access to one-on-one quality healthcare!

Rehabilitation Is a Partnership

Cardiovascular rehabilitation consists mostly of lifestyle modification: adjustments in diet, exercise habits, smoking cessation, and stress management are all key to positive outcomes. This looks simple on paper, but of course, we understand how complicated this is when you’re trying to manage a large set of new habits.

That’s why we encourage you to add us to your team of current health care providers. We can check in with you on your choices and habits. Let us encourage you when you’re on the right track, and help you make small adjustments when you start to lose your way. Often, staying connected and accountable can make a huge change in whether or not patients feel like they are able to sustain these changes.

Connection and support is the entire purpose of telemedicine, so count us in. We’re here for you. Reach out and let us help you make your way back to health.