So, what exactly is telemedicine? Telemedicine (also called telehealth) is the use of electronic communications and software to provide clinical services to patients without an in-person visit. With telemedicine, healthcare providers can evaluate, diagnose and treat patients at a distance using secure video conferencing and wireless technology. This type of care is especially useful for people with chronic health conditions who require frequent monitoring but may not need to go into the office each time they experience symptoms. It’s also ideal for those who live in rural areas or remote communities where access to care is otherwise limited.
Telemedicine is a fast-growing area of the healthcare field. It is also one of the most innovative, allowing doctors and patients to connect in ways that were not possible even a few years ago. If you are thinking about a career in healthcare, you should consider the value of telemedicine. Here are five benefits that make it an effective form of patient care.
Patients can get treatment more quickly
If someone gets injured while they're far away from home, they can use telemedicine to be evaluated by a doctor or nurse practitioner right away. This can be especially helpful if they don't have access to good local medical care or if it's not readily available because of the time of day or weather conditions. They can describe their symptoms, show the injury and get more personalized advice than they would with a phone call to an advice nurse.
Doctors can treat more patients
When physicians are able to treat patients remotely, it opens up more space in their schedule for other patients who need to be seen in person. They can help people who are too sick to visit the office without having to turn them away.
Cost-effective
It lowers costs as there are fewer visits to hospitals or private practices and less need for expensive equipment on-site with these institutions (especially if they use cloud-based systems).
Convenience
Telemedicine offers convenience to both doctors and patients because it allows doctors to see more patients during their day while allowing patients to see a doctor without having to leave their homes or office. This saves everyone time and money while providing faster access to care.
In the end, telemedicine offers a ton of advantages to both physicians and patients alike. Whether you're looking for a better care experience from your physician or want to consult specialists when you can't actually see the physician in person, telemedicine will likely continue to rise in popularity and make regular face-to-face appointments obsolete. You might even find yourself preferring it over the standard approach in the not-so-distant future!