Telehealth: Will It be a Substitute for In-Person Care?
The
benefits of telehealth are well established and have been a realized reality
for a few years now. It is sometimes not possible for patients to arrange
transportation for themselves or for their loved one’s especially if they live
in remote locations or are unable to physically be present at the in-person visitation
to the doctor due to some underlying chronic illnesses.
Telehealth application offerings in the USA from companies like
SISGAIN have put forth their revolutionary telehealth softwares to help
patients receive quality access to healthcare providers especially if they are
unable to traditionally visit a doctor’s chambers. Instead of stressing about
how to reach healthcare providers, patients can now use the telehealth software
application to schedule a virtual face-to-face consultation via live video
conferencing from the comfort of their own residence at their own convenience.
Telehealth
not only eases the burden on healthcare providers but also helps increase
patients outcomes and reduces costs while also boosting efficiency in the
healthcare sector. Telehealth app provides access to quality healthcare to elderly
patients who suffer from chronic diseases and patients do not need to worry
about taking time off from work or to hastily arrange for transport whenever
they require urgent medical care.
When Telehealth replaces in-person care
Telehealth
is not only based on convenience but also saves time and helps increasing
patient outcomes and builds on doctor-patient trust. Communication with
healthcare providers is essential to a patient’s wellbeing and their recovery.
- Elderly patients with chronic illness
The older
demographic relies on their family for support and care but some of these
patients live in rural areas, where they cannot arrange transport for
themselves as it might worsen their health. The patients can consult with
healthcare providers using live video conferencing where medical professionals
can recommend treatment and provide urgent care without having the patients to
move to their healthcare facilities.
- Regular follow-ups and routine consultations
Telehealth
makes it easier for patients to get in touch with their attending physicians
for their routine consultations using live videoconferencing. Regular
follow-ups with the doctors are also maintained using live video and audio
where healthcare providers can assess their recovery and recommend medications
if they are experiencing any side effects.
- Refilling prescriptions
Patients
do not need to travel long distances just to update their prescriptions if they
have been using the prescribed medicines for years. Healthcare providers can
just send an e-prescription to the patients which they can refill at their own
convenience.
- Assessing a patient's symptoms before
agreeing whether an in-person visit is required
Patients
sometimes feel sick and they do not find the energy to work at that time. A
quick consultation with healthcare providers using telehealth software systems will prove
beneficial to patients as the doctors can analyse the symptoms and assess the
treatment they require. If the providers need more information then they can
ask the patient to come in for an in-person visitation as necessary.
When in-person visits are necessary
Telehealth
may not be enough in some cases. Dealing with complex health situations
sometimes requires for the patients to come in for a traditional doctor’s
visit.
- Complicated,
difficult health problems
Some health conditions are complex and may
require traditional healthcare visits instead of telehealth. Some cases where
patients suffer from debilitating diseases and the doctor has not yet
prescribed a treatment for the symptoms, it is better for the patient to come
in for a traditional in-person visit to help providers find the exact cause of
the problem. Healthcare professionals may need to do an X-ray or a CT scan to
confirm their diagnosis, and relying on live video conferencing won’t be
enough.
- If the
patient has no internet access or cannot use telehealth
Patients who have limited internet access or
cannot understand the use of mobile telehealth solutions, they need to rely on traditional
healthcare visits. Healthcare professionals will show the patients how to use
the software so that they can use telehealth from the next time.
Comments
Post a Comment