Introduction
Telemedicine is something that was once avoided by doctors due to various reasons. Nonetheless, the covid 19 pandemic brought out the best of telemedicine. Today many hospitals and medical professionals not just endorse it but use it on a regular basis and the pandemic played a huge role in it.
Telemedicine is growing at a rapid pace and it’s only going to grow stronger and better. However, there are people that are not quite aware of the term. These individuals do raise questions like what telemedicine actually is and how does telemedicine work? The question seems legit for people who did have to deal with any medical scares.
If you are someone who doesn’t know much about telemedicine, you are at the right place. In this article, we will take you through the history of telemedicine and tell you what it really is. Moreover, we will let you know how it actually works. Furthermore, you’ll get to know about how it’s beneficial for a lot of individuals today.
What is Telemedicine?
Originally telemedicine came into existence just to provide medical assistance to people who can’t access doctors in person for various reasons. However, today the goal has completely shifted. Nowadays, telemedicine is a pure form of convenience for patients as humans are designed this way, they always look for convenience in their lives. Just like the other fields have shifted towards online mode, it was only a matter of time before the medical field also shifted some of its operations online.
If you aren’t still aware of what telemedicine actually is, telemedicine is the practice of delivering medical treatments remotely while utilising telecommunications technology for real-time interactive communication between patients and healthcare professionals. Three different types of medical services can be delivered to patients via telemedicine: remote patient monitoring (RPM), video conferencing, and store and forward (S&F).
How Telemedicine Actually Works?
Until now, telemedicine has mostly been practised through video conferencing, which is still the most popular and commonly utilised kind of telemedicine. Additionally, it provides the best insurance protection. And there’s a good explanation for it. Video conferencing is utilised to take the role of personal visits while remote patient monitoring and storing and forwarding are used to enhance them.
It streamlines interactions between patients and practitioners and enables caregivers to speak with patients who are in other cities and states while still offering the same or even higher level of care than in-person visits. How does telemedicine operate then? Let’s examine how healthcare providers use virtual visits in further detail.
Benefits of Virtual Visits
There are numerous benefits that come with virtual visits of patients to their doctors. A few of them are given below:-
Follow-ups following therapy – Ask patients who have been discharged how they are doing without making them come to your clinic.
Patients With Recurring Conditions can Check in – Patients with chronic diseases should receive fewer frequent in-person visits and their care regimens should be modified remotely.
Nighttime Attention – Give patients who can’t wait until the next morning to schedule an in-person visit after-hours virtual care.
Review of Imaging or Lab Results – During a video call, discuss patients’ aberrant test findings face-to-face to convey information effectively and promptly.
