Healthcare has always been a basic human need. In some countries, citizens have struggled and protested for adequate and accessible care.
When the world was thrown into turmoil with the recent pandemic, new ways of working and going about our daily lives had to be invented. Along with other professionals working remotely, some healthcare workers also make services available via telephone, messaging, email, and video calling.
The advances in technology that have made it easier for people to get in touch with each other gave rise to the new field of telemedicine. Here’s how this new field is shaping the healthcare system:
Increased Accessibility
Because most people have access to mobile phones, the internet, and other online options, healthcare is now accessible to more people than before.
Anyone who can get to a telephone could potentially get medical assistance from a healthcare professional. Getting hold of medical marijuana cards in Philadelphia has also become more convenient with telemedicine appointments.
Scheduling appointments has become more manageable, with many healthcare groups offering a patient portal or application for bookings.
Less Travel Time
Telemedicine has given people from the most rural areas the opportunity to contact healthcare professionals without spending money on transport fees. Having an online appointment could save a person quite a bit of time as they don’t always have to travel into town or to the nearest hospital.
Before the more accessible telehealth, patients had to commute for long hours to reach the offices of doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and many other professionals.
Using video calling applications, the patient and healthcare specialist could have appointments similar to in-person visits. They now have access to healthcare services from the comfort of their homes.
Reduced Costs
Many healthcare professionals offer a discounted rate for telemedicine sessions that save patients even more money. Saving on appointment costs could then allow the patient to schedule appointments regularly.
Healthcare professionals also save time and money as they don't have to use equipment and other medical devices when seeing patients online. They wouldn't have to replace as many expendables as cleaning products, tongue depressors, and so forth.
Patients can now go to the local clinic or hospital for blood tests, scans, and other medical procedures and have the results sent to their doctor via email. This reduces the cost for the patient as there’s no need to deliver the results in person.
The medical professional can interpret the results and provide feedback through a telemedicine session instead of asking the patient to schedule another appointment.
Better Health Management
Going to a healthcare professional would most likely require several visits until the issue is resolved. Repeat visits cost time and money to both the patient and the professional.
Chronic illnesses need to be monitored closely. Regular appointments are usually set for these. Serious illnesses or injuries may also require repeat appointments to ensure the healing is on track.
Many other professionals do follow-up sessions with patients, and attending more than one appointment could be tiring. When all these appointments can be made via a telemedicine session, this would alleviate some of the stress involved with the regular meetings, and the patients would be more likely to comply with the treatments.
More advances in technology make the remote monitoring of symptoms easy for patients and professionals. Patients could be issued with a device that would send regular information to the doctor.
Patients needing chronic medications could use an application on their phones to serve as reminders for when they need to take which medications daily. The applications could also inform them when they need to refill their medications. Renewing the prescription could be done via telemedicine instead of the actual doctor's visit.
The fact that you don’t need to leave the comfort of your home is a huge positive point for telemedicine.
Addressing Social Situations
When patients don't have to attend in-person appointments, there’s a reduced risk of catching other infectious diseases. Overcrowded waiting areas could be a thing of the past, with more and more people choosing telemedicine.
Social distancing also shields healthcare professionals from bacteria and viruses, allowing them to provide quality care to their patients.
To Conclude
For numerous reasons, telemedicine looks like a good option. Both the patients and the healthcare professionals could benefit. All the technological advances assist both parties in streamlining the process of healthcare.
Quick and easy sessions save time and money while the same level of care can be provided for all. With the distinct possibility that these telemedicine sessions are here to stay, technology will have to provide the method of delivery for healthcare of the future.
Author Bio
Susan D. Allen is a 50-year-old nursing practitioner with a passion for helping others. This passion has been fostered through her career and by helping a medical doctor at his very successful practice. In her spare time, she loves to read and spend time with her family.
