Telehealth Services
Telehealth Services: Enhancing the Healthcare Delivery
Telehealth is a term that is used to describe healthcare services that are delivered remotely using telecommunication technology. Telehealth enables patients to receive treatment from a doctor without the need to book an appointment and go through the process of visiting a hospital. Instead, patients can use live video, telephone or other over-the-top communications, such as smart-phone applications, to talk to doctors or nurses.
Telehealth is expanding tremendously in the recent past, due to the improvement in technology as well as the evolving laws and policies on healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic also pushed the use of telehealth to its new heights, as authorities restricted in-person consultations. Telehealth is beneficial to keep connected with a provider when it is not safe or possible to come to the clinic for an appointment.
Benefits of Telehealth
Convenience and Accessibility
It also means patients can easily access care since they do not have to travel physically to the healthcare facilities. Telehealth methods are helpful to patients who are in rural or remote regions to access providers who can offer medical advice immediately. Telehealth is also beneficial to elderly or disabled patient who may have limited mobility in their everyday life. It can call a doctor, which means the patient can consult with a physician without going to an appointment.
Reduced Healthcare Costs
Through cutting down the time required to reach various facilities as well as boosting efficiency, telehealth has the potential of decreasing expenses for both the healthcare institutions and the patient. Another disadvantage associated with telehealth appointments is that they usually are less comprehensive and take a shorter time to complete than physical visits. These price cuts are then reflected in patients’ concerns due to reduced charges which are required from them.
There are other similar conditions that could benefit from this approach and therefore the population that could benefit from improved chronic care is large.
Follow-up consultations and constant control with the help of telehealth apps makes chronic diseases control much easier. People receiving treatment can have their health monitored, and the doctors can offer them guidance without physical appointments. Such a continuity lowers chances of complications and readmission to the hospital.
However, telehealth does offer its advantages and face-to-face meetings are still crucial for physical check-ups, operations, or emergencies. With further trends in technology and the policies being implemented, telehealth strives to expand its contribution in enhancing the efficient delivery of quality care. Telehealth aims at enhancing the health system by incorporating it with other traditional models of care provision to be convenient and cheap while putting patients first.