In this era where online presence remains superior, we’ve fully embraced the digital age, seeing how pretty much everything has gone online. Need groceries? Shop online! Need to book a dental appointment? Book it on their website! We have even applied AI technology by implementing call-answering services in our businesses and speaking of calls, you can even call you in your telehealth appointments. Forget waiting long hours in the clinic wondering when the doctor’s coming in; now, you can easily access healthcare services online. Today’s article highlights the importance of this innovation as it continues to revolutionize modern healthcare. But first…
What is telehealth?
Telehealth refers to the wide range of communication technology that allows easy access to medical services online remotely without going to the hospital or clinic. Telehealth appointments can be conducted from anywhere in the world as long as you have access online, from your smartphone to your personal computer.
What are the advantages of telehealth appointments?
There are numerous benefits telehealth services have provided, and they will continue to do so the more they develop. For now, these are the key contributions of telehealth in the field of medicine.
Accessibility. Back in the day, many patients had to travel from rural areas just to be able to get checked, but the introduction of telehealth changed the game. Now, they can connect with a healthcare professional at the tap of their fingers, eliminating the need for long-distance travel. What’s more, they also save a lot on transportation costs and gas, so they can allocate their funds to their other needs instead.
Improved patient engagement. Another benefit of telehealth services is that there’s improved engagement, seeing as healthcare personnel and patients can focus on the consultation with far fewer distractions. Let’s not forget how it also has a lot more privacy, so the patient can be more open about their condition, fostering a better understanding of their health.
More efficient monitoring. Believe it or not, patient monitoring, especially for those with chronic illnesses, proved to be more successful thanks to telehealth services. This is because it’s easily accessible compared to patients commuting long hours just to check in with their healthcare providers. Because of this, all the necessary adjustments to their treatment regimens can be accomplished easily, which prevents health complications and improves the patient’s overall health immensely.
How the recent COVID-19 pandemic propelled telehealth services.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit back in 2020, the world went to a standstill, but humans’ survival instinct kicked in, developing ways to adjust and navigate through those trying times. Because physical contact was limited, technological advancement brought forth telehealth, which immensely improved many people’s lives; to a great many, it even became their savior.
Flash forward to now, and we can see that telehealth services continue to evolve and have now been ingrained in our current healthcare system.
However, it’s important to remember that, although it’s a valuable tool in the medical field, it cannot replace in-person care. There are still a lot more aspects of medicine that require a traditional approach to cater to the patient’s various needs.
