Originally the telemedicine platform was developed to provide healthcare services to patients located in remote locations who either have no access to health facilities or are too far away. Today, telemedicine platforms have become a reliable way of convenient healthcare services.
Telemedicine is a practice that connects healthcare providers with their patients using communication technology. It is a highly dynamic and fascinating field that provides efficient care, and secure healthcare services to patients.
Telemedicine has changed drastically since its inception. 60 years ago, few hospitals experimented with telemedicine platforms to provide healthcare facilities in remote areas.
The expansion in technology over the last two decades has made telemedicine platforms an integral part of healthcare institutions, hospitals, and private physician offices.
The concept of telemedicine is believed to have been born with the advent of telecommunication technology.
Today, patients want to spend less time in the waiting room to consult a doctor and want immediate treatment. This expectation of patients has forced many healthcare professionals to make telemedicine platforms part of their existing healthcare systems.
Telemedicine has a net benefit in almost all cases. With its help, quality patient care has been provided to the underserved population who are in dire need of healthcare services. Telemedicine platforms have changed the healthcare delivery model.
Let’s try to know through a quick overview how telemedicine platforms are providing professional, quality, secure healthcare services to patients.
More convenient, accessible care for patients:
The driving force of telemedicine is its convenience and accessibility. Telemedicine platforms were Launched in the USA for the first time to provide healthcare facilities in remote locations. But nowadays patients sitting at home can contact the doctor and tell him about their problems.
Telemedicine with its power has not only broken down geographical barriers but also improved the entire healthcare model and increased patient access.
Saves on healthcare costs:
The US spends $2.9 trillion on healthcare services each year. This is more than other developed nations. Of which, $200 billion is cost-avoidable, unnecessary spending.
With the help of telemedicine platforms, there are many unnecessary cost reductions, such as ER visits, making typical doctor visits, travel costs, etc.
Extend access to consults from specialists:
With telemedicine, access to specialists in the medical practice and hospital system has expanded. Primary care physicians can easily discuss patient care with medical specialists.
In certain cases such as cancer cases where consultation with out-of-location specialist doctors is sometimes required, telemedicine platforms play a very special role.
With the help of these platforms, patient data can be shared anywhere and specialist advice can be sought from all over the world.
Increasing patient engagement:
People have become so advanced with the help of technology, they do not compromise their convenience at all. Patients expect very convenient healthcare facilities.
Telemedicine to patients Facilitates connecting frequently with doctors in an easy way. This means more questions and answers asked and better doctor-patient relationships.
Better quality patient care:
With the help of telemedicine platforms, providers can follow up with patients frequently. More extensive remote patient monitoring systems can monitor a patient’s heart, and answer patient medication-related questions via video chat after hospital discharge. This is how telemedicine leads to better care outcomes.
Wide range of services:
Telemedicine provides a wide range of healthcare services. They provide treatment not only for common health problems but also for some chronic diseases.
Allergies, Arthritic pain, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds and Flu, Diarrhoea, Infections, Pharyngitis, Respiratory Infections, Sinusitis, Skin Inflammation, Cellulitis, Bladder infection, UTIs through a telemedicine platform.
Surgeons do post-operation check-ups with the patient with the help of telemedicine. A gynaecologist treats his patients through video audio chat, an endocrinologist discusses the patient’s test results through video chat.
Secure patient data:
Telemedicine platforms must follow HIPAA complaint guidelines. Their intend is to protect the medical and personal data of patients on the telemedicine platform. According to these guidelines, a few people including doctor can access the patient data.
Conclusion:
A careful understanding of all the factors discussed above suggests that telemedicine platforms have proved to be a milestone in healthcare services. They have made the medical service very comfortable and easy.
Not only patients but also healthcare professionals are using these platforms with great enthusiasm. Being HIPAA compliant, telemedicine takes care of patient convenience as well as patient safety.
Thus we can say that these platforms are playing an important role in the healthcare sector by providing good quality and secure services to patients.