The Impact of Telemedicine on the Healthcare Sector
The healthcare sector has seen considerable growth in the last couple of decades thanks in no part to the convenience and ease brought about by today’s modern technologies. However, the industry still faces many challenges, not the least of which is patient access to medical personnel and services. And one of the solutions that aim to address this concern is telemedicine.
Telemedicine—what is it?
As its name implies, telemedicine refers to the utilization of telecommunication technologies, including computers and phones, to render healthcare services without needing an in-patient visit. Instead, medical practitioners can diagnose and treat their patients over long distances through calls, video chat, messages, and digital correspondence.
Beyond connecting healthcare providers with patients, telemedicine also provides a means for medical professionals to seek consultation or advice from each other in the treatment or diagnosis of their respective patients, all without leaving their facilities. While it certainly isn’t a new concept, it’s only recently that it has started to take its place as a viable method of healthcare delivery because of the leaps made in technology.
How it impacts healthcare providers and patients
A rapidly growing field in healthcare, telemedicine has a lot of potentials to address many of the challenges healthcare providers and patients face, including the following:
- Access to healthcare – The delivery of healthcare solutions to rural and remote areas with shortages in medical facilities and professionals was the intended purpose of telemedicine. However, its use has expanded to those in urban locations with busy lifestyles and schedules who are less inclined to visit their local hospitals or clinics and need immediate and on-demand care. In addition, patients who are homebound or have mobility problems also benefit from these technologies since they can share pertinent medical information in real-time with their respective physicians.
- Reduced costs – Another way telemedicine benefits patients, insurers, and healthcare providers is by reducing costs. It does away with non-urgent physical check-ups and unnecessary ER visits for diagnosing simple issues like colds, fever, sore throats, and rashes. Instead, it makes remote monitoring a possibility. It also eliminates the transportation expense for patients.
- Easier way to connect to specialists – With a severe shortage in physicians today, it’s increasingly becoming more challenging for patients to access specialist medical services, especially for those located in remote locations who have to endure much longer travels. Through telemedicine, it’s much easier to connect with essential specialists. As a result, patient engagement is strengthened and healthcare outcomes improve significantly when compared to visiting a healthcare facility for the medical services needed.
Conclusion
Telemedicine may face a lot of hurdles, including but not necessarily limited to consistent medical laws, rules in privacy protection, and reimbursement regulations and policies. However, it remains a rapidly rising and positive trend, and it’s not hard to see why. After all, it boasts benefits to both medical practitioners and patients alike. As the technologies it utilizes continues to evolve, there’s little doubt that more and more people will rely on telemedicine for their healthcare need.
