In a May 2024 press release, the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) announced that its affiliate organization, ATA Action, supports the House Ways and Means Committee’s proactive approach to telehealth. The ATA press release reported that support was for the House Ways and Means Committee extending telehealth for two years.

The extension allows many Medicare telehealth flexibilities to last until 2026. The provisions that ATA Action was particularly supportive of include allowing Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics to continue providing telehealth services. It also allows for expanding the list of Medicare providers to physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists, repealing the tele-mental health in-person criteria, and saving the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program until the 2029 calendar year, among other provisions.

According to the May 2024 ATA press release, the extension demonstrates the House Ways and Means Committee’s commitment to telehealth care. Kyle Zebley, Senior Vice President, Public Policy at the ATA and Executive Director for ATA Action, stated that the ATA would like these provisions to be permanent. She, however, added that the ATA applauded the two-year extension because it signals that the government’s bipartisan supporters will not leave Americans without access to quality, safe healthcare options. Further, the organization hopes the House Ways and Means Committee’s commitment will catalyze Congress to enact legislation.

ATA Action is a group that raises awareness of how telehealth can transform healthcare. For more information on this extension or ATA Action, please visit www.americantelemed.org/about-us/.

​Telemedicine employs modern technology to facilitate real-time remote healthcare, enabling physicians to provide medical attention to patients regardless of location. This healthcare model is gaining rapid acceptance due to its numerous benefits. Getting ready for a virtual session with a physician involves several considerations, such as location, prior interactions with the physician, and more.

Firstly, when planning a telemedicine session, it's crucial to ensure that the necessary tech gadgets are prepared. Patients should confirm that their smartphones or laptops are fully charged and have a stable internet connection. Since the session may last for an extended period, a reliable internet connection is essential for seamless interaction, particularly during video calls.

Booking a prior appointment with the medical practitioner is also an essential step. This can be accomplished by visiting the hospital portal and scheduling a telemedicine session at the most convenient time. Some physicians provide downloadable apps or links for patients to access a few minutes before the meeting.

Certain apps may require patients to input or review their symptoms before the appointment. During the session, the doctor engages with the patient in real time to discuss their symptoms. In rare cases, a physical visit to the clinic may be deemed necessary.

​AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) is an international community of about 300,000 individuals in 75 nations. The association advocates for general aviation through multifaceted initiatives to protect recreational flying privileges, equip pilots with critical skills, and enable more people to pursue their aviation aspirations.

Various AOPA resources help pilots embark on or advance their careers in aviation. AOPA’s center provides information such as finding pilot jobs, preparing for interviews, and building flight experience. Those seeking certifications can use the organization’s flight school directory to identify accredited programs and college degree options. Flight instructors can also find regulations, best practices, and career development resources and connect with other CFIs (certified flight instructors). AOPA membership further unlocks extra educational materials that empower pilots at every experience level to achieve their goals.

In addition to its resources, AOPA organizes dozens of volunteer pilot groups that partner with organizations such as the Air Care Alliance (ACA) to provide crucial transportation for medical emergencies, disaster relief, environmental projects, and educational activities. Prospective volunteers can review options on the ACA website that match their interests. Though community service through flying is deeply rewarding, pilots should also prepare appropriately by obtaining relevant experience and training, including completing AOPA’s online safety course, to conduct this vital work safely.

​The healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving, and one significant contributor to this transformation is the burgeoning field of telemedicine. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has witnessed unprecedented growth, becoming a pivotal player in the healthcare industry. The global market size for telemedicine, valued at $83.5 billion, is projected to experience a compound annual growth rate of 24 percent from 2023 to 2030.

Telemedicine, defined as the provision of virtual medical services through telecommunication technologies, spans a spectrum of applications from electronic health information delivery to remote interactions between patients and healthcare professionals. Contrary to misconceptions, telemedicine is not confined to mild cases. It serves as a valuable supplement to traditional healthcare, offering remote diagnostics, personalized therapy sessions, and continuous monitoring of vital signs.

Looking ahead to 2024, telemedicine is poised for further innovations. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are expected to play a more significant role, reducing operational costs by 30 percent and enhancing personalized treatment plans. Tele-intensive care units (Tele-ICU) will revolutionize critical care, utilizing real-time remote data monitoring to reduce mortality rates.

Integrating electronic health records (EHR) will streamline patient data access, thus fostering coordinated healthcare processes. Additionally, a heightened focus on chronic care management will empower patients to engage in preventive measures, improving adherence to treatment plans and reducing overall healthcare costs.

​Peter Killcommons graduated from the City College of New York, where he studied medicine. As the founder and CEO of Medweb, Peter "Pete" Killcommons runs the telemedicine, radiology, and disaster response divisions and is also in charge of their organized philanthropy program. He is also dedicated to community service and has a keen interest in solar power.

Solar energy is a renewable source of power that has many important benefits for rural areas in different parts of the world. As opposed to previous energy sources like coal, solar power is a clean energy source that does not impact the environment negatively. Some of the benefits of solar energy are listed below.

1. Renewable source of clean energy: The pollution level in rural communities drops when there is a renewable power plant in the vicinity. This allows the residents to enjoy a lower illness rate across the community.

2. Increase in commercial and industrial activities: When clean and renewable energy in a rural community attracts economic progress. This results from how cheap power becomes when multiple renewable energy sources exist in a community. It also helps to sprout many prospective rural businesses with the potential to build industries.

3. Reduction of water usage: The amount of water needed for the operation of coal and nuclear-based energy sources is enormous compared to the amount that solar power consumes. Therefore, solar energy can reduce water usage on power in rural communities, leading to an abundance of water needed for agriculture or irrigation.

​​Peter Killcommons is the founder and CEO of MedWeb in San Francisco, CA. He is a member of the American Medical Association and the American Telemedicine Association. With over 30 years of professional experience, Peter "Pete" Killcommons understands the various strategies facilities can implement to secure their data.

Healthcare facilities should implement data access controls to protect patient health information (PHI). Access controls ensure only authorized personnel and suitable applications interact with protected data. Multi-factor authentication, such as passwords, key cards, and biometrics, is a common feature that effectively restricts access to unauthorized parties.

Data usage controls can also secure healthcare information. These controls identify and flag malicious activities, blocking them in real time. They can mitigate attempts by restricting parties from uploading data online, sending unauthorized emails, and printing or copying information to external storage devices.

Besides, facilities can encrypt their data in motion and at rest. Encryption involves changing the data format to ensure unauthorized personnel cannot decipher it even if they gain access to PHI. Deciphering requires a special key that is only available to authorized parties. Data encryption ensures uninterrupted information sharing within the facility during suspected data breaches. Experts in healthcare information technology can recommend an appropriate encryption method after assessing the facility’s workflow and information needs.

​Peter “Pete” Killcommons serves as the head of Medweb, a provider of medical software and devices in San Francisco. One crucial aspect of Peter Killcommons’ services is telehealth, which is the use of technology to deliver diagnoses, treatment information, and information to patients outside the office.

The Health Resources & Services Administration operates several research programs to improve the provision and quality of telehealth services, particularly to people who are underserved by brick-and-mortar facilities in rural, frontier, and urban settings. The agency sponsors eight of these initiatives, including:

The Telehealth Research Center Program (TRC), which focuses on training providers, educating the public, and spreading research findings. The TRC accomplishes its mission through individual meetings, webinars, and conference presentations.

The Telehealth Network Grant Program (TNGP) enhances the applicability of research to medical practices. Currently, the TNGP promotes using provider networks to bolster emergency services to rural residents and help them benefit from consultations around the clock.

Also focused outside of cities is the Telehealth Centers of Excellence (COE) effort. COE works with high-performing telehealth entities on insurance reimbursement in high poverty areas with a prevalence of chronic illnesses.

Finally, the Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program (EBTNP) strengthens networks of telehealth providers. It leverages the information collected by these organizations to determine best practices backed by research results.

​For over three decades, Peter Killcommons, MD, has managed Medweb, a medical software and device company that provides a wide range of medical imaging and telemedicine services. As the CEO, he oversees the business’ daily management, including the coordination of philanthropy programs. An alumnus of New York Medical College, Dr. Peter “Pete” Killcommons maintains membership in the American Telemedicine Association (ATA).

The ATA works to advance telehealth and see that patients receive safe, affordable, and appropriate services. In line with its mission to promote telehealth policy, ATA named Mary Griskewicz, MS, FHIMSS, as the new chair of the ATA Policy Council in 2023. She was appointed alongside three new council members to help ATA handle critical issues in order to create a clear roadmap to help guide telehealth policy at the state and federal levels. Ms. Griskewicz possesses extensive experience working with technology providers and developers on streamlining telehealth policy positions. This experience puts her in a good position to advance state and federal telehealth policy.

​Peter Killcommons studied medicine at the City College of New York and graduated with honors cum laude in 1982. In 1992, Peter "Pete" Killcommons established Medweb, a company that operates medical software and devices. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling the globe, and on one of his trips, he visited Cabo Verde in Africa to help expand the use of telemedicine.

Telemedicine uses information and communication technology (ICT) to deliver medical care to patients who are out of reach or have limited access to medical care. From simple text messaging between medical professionals and patients to remotely supervised surgeries, telemedicine ensures that people get medical attention despite the various barriers that prevent them from walking into a standard hospital.

One major benefit of telemedicine is that it keeps patients in their comfort zones. With telemedicine, patients can receive medical help while at home, and this means they do not need to take a trip down to hospitals, leaving their families and businesses behind.

Also, telemedicine helps to control and reduce the spread of illnesses. This is because it keeps sick patients at home or at a distance from hospitals and prevents other patients and health workers from being exposed to these ill patients.

​Peter "Pete" Killcommons is a humanitarian with a flair for community service. For 30 years, Peter Killcommons has served as CEO of Medweb, a medical software and device company.

Many programming languages can be instrumental to medical application development. When choosing a programming language for developing a healthcare app, you must consider the application's blueprint, architecture, and needs. Below is a look at three popular choices for medical app development:

1. Python

This is a well-utilized programming language in the medical app development industry. It is a programming language with uncomplicated syntaxes. Coding with python is also very versatile because it works on any platform. This programming language makes coding easier because it requires relatively less time to fix bugs.

2. SQL

Standard Query Language is a programming language designed to help developers maintain and interact with databases. It is a crucial language in the medical app development industry because it helps developers organize data using queries. This allows for the analysis and management of stored databases. Furthermore, it also makes auditing easier.

3. HTML

HTML, which stands for Hypertext Markup Language, is a programming language used to build webpages. Developers use it to edit and put out information on a website. For this reason, many healthcare institutions depend on HTML to publicize their service, find new patients, and manage appointments between patients and healthcare professionals.