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.