Virtual health care - or telemedicine - seems to be a natural step in the expansion of the Healthcare IT industry. The growth of technology in medicine has evolved into a greater interest in healthcare by text, phone or even video. With a growth rate between 18-30 percent per year, telehealth is expected to be much more common resource for providers and patients over the next few years as the benefits extend to both parties.

If you're a plastic surgeon or work in a plastic surgery office, the importance of implementing the right practice management software is crucial to the success of the clinic. With a proper practice management system, plastic surgeons can quickly access pertinent data and information as well as maintain schedules and keep track of inventory all in one place. That kind of efficiency not only saves the practice a lot of time on various administrative workflows but it helps reduce stress as well.

In a study conducted by REACH Health, nearly 400 healthcare executives, physicians, nurses and other professionals gave their feedback regarding the impact of telemedicine in their own practices. The REACH Health 2016 U.S. Telemedicine Industry Benchmark Survey found that 62 percent of practices currently utilizing telemedicine believed it was highly successful in improving patient convenience. An additional 36 percent regarded it as "moderately successful."

Advancements in healthcare technology have fostered an environment more encouraging for greater patient engagement between patients and providers.

When patients are in search of the right doctor or medical practice for their health needs, where do most go to evaluate their choices? The Internet. Review sites provide important information and feedback from current and/or former patients about specific practices, but the practice's website can also have a significant impact on the prospective patient's impression of that clinic. Therefore, it's vital that specialty practices, especially ones that rely more on elective procedures, have an engaging and impressive website. Here are three tips to help you accomplish just that.

These days it seems like we are all living in a world ruled by social media, where constantly sharing every little detail of their lives has become the new normal for many people—Facebook status updates, Tweets, Instagram photos and videos of kids, pets, food… you name it. As a result, the use of social media marketing has become a necessity for today’s businesses, both large and small. And healthcare practices are no exception.

In a new study from the Office of National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), it appears patients are being offered access to their electronic medical records and increasingly choosing to check them as well. The new numbers from 2014 report that approximately 40 percent of patients were offered access and nearly half of those patients eventually followed through on checking their EMRs. Just one year ago, only 28 percent of patients were offered access to their EMR and a slight less amount of patients -- 46 percent -- actually accessed them.

A 2014 HIMSS study showed that more than two-thirds of clinicians use smartphones or tablets at their facilities. Mobile devices will only become increasingly common in health care, and if used right, they can improve the way doctors interact with patients.