South Carolina Health System Implements Virtual Medical Exam Kit

To improve patient outcomes while maintaining diagnostic accuracy, South Carolina-based Prisma Health implemented the Tytocare Medical Exam Kit, which uses various technology components to virtually detect, diagnose, and care for multiple conditions. 

As healthcare providers capitalize on the advancement of technology, various innovations have emerged that can lead to more convenient processes for those providing and receiving care. Prisma Health, an 18-hospital system with 300 outpatient sites and more than 5,100 clinicians across its clinically integrated network, aims to participate in the digital transformation of healthcare by adding virtual care options.

The health system has deployed a new exam kit that allows patients to engage in virtual visits with their providers. The kit includes tools that capture videos and sounds of various organ functions, including the heart and lungs, which are then sent to providers through the Tytocare app for further analysis.

Available to patients of any age, the Tytocare Medical Exam Kit can be used to diagnose and treat several conditions, such as asthma, fever, pinkeye, bronchitis, and sore throat.

“TytoCare is a great way to supplement our current virtual care offerings and is quite easy to use. It allows us to deliver quality comprehensive care to our patients who can’t be here in person,” said Ryan Hensley, MD, a pediatrician with Prisma Health Pediatrics-Easley, in a press release. “The ability to conveniently capture, share and discuss information in real-time and provide a diagnosis, treatment plan and prescription, if necessary, helps to meet the needs of our patients and their families.”

Overall, the exam kit aims to provide the same capabilities as in-person examinations to provide comprehensive healthcare while eliminating the need for patient travel.

“Sometimes for our elderly or mobility-challenged patients, that access can be affected by transportation issues and lack of family support, which can result in missed or delayed healthcare appointments. TytoCare allows for quicker, accessible evaluation of common issues without leaving the comfort of home,” said Telicia Allen, MD, family medicine specialist with Prisma Health Keystone Family Medicine in Simpsonville, in the news release.

The health system piloted the kit for two years before launching it across its network last week. 

The implementation of care kits that allow patients to engage in remote monitoring has become more popular among US healthcare providers in recent years, supported by growing clinical evidence.

For example, a study published in August found that strategies such as remote patient monitoring and health coaching were effective in improving the quality of life among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The study involved patients engaging in these care methods, followed by responding to a questionnaire that providers then used to draw conclusions.

Another study published in July found that a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) effectively treated end-stage renal disease (ESRD). After receiving a monitor, study participants performed multiple daily blood sugar readings. After analyzing this data, researchers concluded that the CGM reported accurate measurements and improved the treatment process.