Clinical rotations and clerkships are an essential part of clinical education–have been for generations. The transition from didactic, lecture-based learning to hands-on, practical experience with patients in the twentieth century transformed health education, ultimately laying the foundations for our current system.
Telemedicine, especially since the onset of COVID-19, has become an equally crucial part of the healthcare landscape. As the American Medical Association observes, “Telehealth was a literal lifeline for patients during the COVID-19 public health emergency, ensuring access to a physician’s care without the risks of leaving home…While telehealth alone will not solve all our health care problems, its use is critical to the future of medicine.” And yet, telemedicine rotations remain missing from most clinical rotation programs.
Here are three reasons why they should be included.
Meeting Patient Demand and Expectations
We’ve been vocal proponents of leveraging technology to reshape healthcare for the better. After all, it was why we were founded. “As future healthcare professionals, embracing telemedicine and AI in medicine is no longer optional; it’s essential. It’s about preparing for a world where digital health is the norm, and being adept at using these tools means providing exceptional, seamless care.
In order for aspiring healthcare professionals to take the very best care of patients, they must have access to a comprehensive learning journey that not only addresses every modality in which they can potentially encounter patients, but also provides relevant practical experience. A recent study from Deloitte found that almost a quarter of participants were willing to switch doctors to ensure access to virtual health options, noting “These trends underscore a need for health care organizations to adapt by enhancing their virtual health offerings or risk losing market share.”
As healthcare organizations adapt to shifting patient demand and expectations, providers must be equipped to do the same.
Increasing Health Equity and Access to Care
The United States has been in the throes of a healthcare worker shortage for years. While telemedicine isn’t a magic wand, it offers a number of advantages in combating the shortage and providing access to quality healthcare that many patients wouldn’t receive otherwise. This may include patients who live in rural areas, elderly patients without transportation, and citizens isolated due to natural disasters, such as Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Fulfilling Clinical Hours Requirements
An unfortunate side effect of the healthcare worker shortage is a subsequent lack of available educators and preceptors for students. Like access to care, this issue also disproportionately affects rural communities.
Because graduate programs often lack preceptor networks of their own, students are frequently left to fend for themselves in what is already a very saturated, competitive pool, making it difficult (if not outright impossible) to receive the clinical hours necessary to graduate. Programs like MomentMD take the guesswork out of precepting, partnering with colleges and universities nationwide to pair students with qualified preceptors who will guide them in their rotations and future careers.
For too long, the healthcare industry expected patients and providers to work around it, rather than mold itself to accommodate patient needs and expectations. The acceleration of telemedicine and corresponding technologies has empowered patients to personalize their healthcare experience, and it’s only right that future healthcare professionals are armed with the tools and knowledge necessary to deliver to the best of their ability.
Interested in unlocking MomentMD’s Preceptor Network for your students? Click here to get in touch with us.