Telemedicine, by definition, means attending to patients remotely using telecommunicating devices, just like in-person visits.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Patients now access healthcare delivery from the comfort of their homes without booking doctor’s appointments or hospital visits, with many benefits for the health sector.
These devices can be used in diagnosing, treating, and advising the patient, which normally would be done during a hospital stay.
With the advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) and technology, telemedicine has come to stay and was very useful during the last COVID-19 pandemic.
The importance of telehealth cannot be overemphasized, as it has many benefits when it comes to human health and even that of animals.
With a lot of opportunities attached to telehealth for patients, healthcare professionals, and the health system as a whole, telemedicine is a real game changer for the health industry.
The following are the advantages to mankind:
1: Increased Accessibility
More and more patients can access healthcare delivery, which is much more favorable to those who live in rural areas, as these arrears are usually limited to medical facilities.
With digital health technology, patients can be attended to, thereby eliminating long-distance travel to see a health professional.
This is common with those with chronic health conditions that often require more frequent hospital visits as well as daily monitoring therapy or treatment regimens.
2: Convenience
The convenience of telemedicine is so conspicuous to patients with busy lifestyles, who may not find it easy to take frequent sick leave from work just to attend a doctor’s appointment or make childcare arrangements.
Scheduling appointments at your convenience is one of the benefits of telemedicine, which is usually shorter than an in-person appointment.
This is because there’s no need for a physical examination of the patient by the healthcare professional.
3: Cost-Effectiveness
When it comes to healthcare delivery costs, telemedicine is the preferred method. Its cost-effectiveness is well-pronounced compared to the usual in-person care cost.
Those who use telehealth more frequently save a lot of money compared to those who still favor traditional medical care.
Transportation costs, parking lot fees, and time off work are very important in saving costs for the patient.
On the other hand, healthcare providers can also save on costs by having a brick-and-mortar office location.
4:Reduced Risk of Infection
Many infections are contagious by contact, especially in a hospital environment, and are known as nosocomial infections.
Telemedicine practice has helped a great deal in the reduction of hospital infections, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
From the comfort of their homes, patients now receive medical care without being at risk themselves or posing a risk to others.
Conclusion
One should take note, based on the discussion of telemedicine’s benefits for patients and medical practitioners, that not all medical disorders can be treated using telemedicine.
Cases requiring surgeries will need the usual traditional medical practice of visiting the hospital to receive such medical attention.
Somehow, the advent of telemedicine in the healthcare sector has helped improve its delivery system with a reduction in the burden of understaffing in hospitals.