By Meera Shanmugam
Introduction:
Healthcare has changed drastically because of something that is called Telemedicine. This approach to medical care has not only changed the way we view healthcare but has also changed the relationship between patients and doctors. This is because Telemedicine is convenient, accessible, and efficient.
Telemedicine, also known as telehealth, allows patients to talk with healthcare professionals remotely through video calls, phone calls, or messaging. This is good because it eliminates problems like being too distant or far from a hospital, making healthcare accessible to people in rural areas or people who struggle with mobility. Now, people can contact a medical consultant or professional easily and conveniently, letting patients seek quick medical advice without dealing with geography problems.
Advantages of telemedicine:
One of the key advantages of telemedicine is the elimination of having to wait in the waiting room. Patients no longer need to spend hours in crowded waiting areas, instead, they can schedule appointments at their convenience, reducing unnecessary exposure to illnesses and making the entire healthcare process faster and safer. With just a computer or smartphone, people can connect with healthcare professionals from the comfort of their homes and not have to waste time.
Telemedicine has also helped with making specialized medical care accessible for everyone. Patients living in remote areas or regions with a shortage of specialists or physicians can now easily connect with experts from around the world. This not only expands the reach of healthcare services but also makes sure that everyone can receive the best possible care no matter their locations.
For patients with chronic conditions, telemedicine also offers a lifeline. Regular check-ins with healthcare providers can happen online and allow for people to manage chronic diseases better. Technology also helped telemedicine grow. Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing telemedicine by providing faster diagnostic support through algorithms that analyze medical data and images for the patient. Moreover, virtual reality (VR) technology is making the telemedicine experience better by creating environments for the patient that can be used for training purposes. Some other things include wearable devices and remote monitoring technologies that allow for tracking of vital signs, providing doctors with important data to make decisions and prescribe medicines more accurately.
Another good thing about Telemedicine is that it has the potential to reduce healthcare costs. By shrinking the need for people to visit in person, patients can save on transportation expenses and reduce time away from work. Healthcare providers can also use their resources and work more efficiently, leading to cost savings that can benefit patients.
Impacts on telemedicine:
The global COVID-19 pandemic played an important role in telemedicine by forcing us to learn how to manage global medical problems. Telehealth became an important tool for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring patients while shrinking the risk of virus transmission/spreading. The experience that was gained during the pandemic has allowed more people to accept telemedicine into normal, everyday healthcare.
Telemedicine also has applications in many different specialized fields, showing its versatility and effectiveness in delivering specialized care remotely. Dermatology, for example, involves using telemedicine for virtual consultations and online diagnosis of skin conditions, reducing the need for in-person visits and allowing more people to have access to dermatological care, especially in lower class areas. Similarly, radiology is increasingly using telemedicine technologies to allow for online interpretation of medical imaging studies, allowing for more timely diagnosis and treatment planning. Psychiatry has also embraced telemedicine for online counseling and therapy sessions, allowing people to have mental health support from the comfort of their homes.
As telemedicine continues to change and evolve, its potential to change healthcare is undeniable. The convenience, accessibility, and efficiency it offers has the power to drastically change and improve healthcare. As people continue to learn and gain more knowledge, the integration of telemedicine into our healthcare systems is a significant step towards a healthier and more connected world.
MCR Committee: Health
Citations:
Bonvissuto, D. (2023, November 14). What Is Telemedicine? WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/covid/how-does-telemedicine-work
Benefits of Telemedicine. (2022, January 18). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/benefits-of-telemedicine
Haleem A, Javaid M, Singh RP, Suman R. Telemedicine for healthcare: Capabilities, features, barriers, and applications. Sens Int. 2021;2:100117. doi: 10.1016/j.sintl.2021.100117. Epub 2021 Jul 24. PMID: 34806053; PMCID: PMC8590973.
What is Telemedicine? (2023, January 18). News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Telemedicine.aspx