Ideally, you will want to visit a doctor whenever you need medical help or get a routine checkup. But today, you don’t have to do it in person. With the availability of telemedicine, you can now schedule an appointment with your doctor and get the necessary checkups virtually. These advances can greatly benefit those who have no direct access to healthcare services and those who cannot leave their house. The services of a telemedicine doctor are especially important in the time of COVID-19.
Understanding Telemedicine
Telemedicine uses telecommunication technology such as smartphones and video conferencing applications to offer medical services to patients who need them. It lets healthcare providers monitor their patients remotely and minimizes the amount of time patients spend to wait to get services. With telemedicine, they do not need to make a trip to their doctor’s office. In addition, they don’t need to come into contact with other patients who may be suffering from a contagious illness. Telemedicine is ideal for those who have busy schedules and other responsibilities they must focus on.
How It Works
Those who have not tried consulting with a doctor virtually may find this experience intimidating at first. But virtual consultations do not require a lot of equipment. In fact, even a smartphone with a camera can do trick. But for optimal experience, using a computer is a good option.
Doctors use telemedicine for diagnosing daily concerns like headaches, diarrhea, and the common colds. Also, doctors can discuss treatment options, particularly those that can be done at home without requiring much medical supervision. Patients can also use telemedicine for routine checkups. However, it is important to keep in mind that telemedicine does not replace traditional medical services. Some conditions must be checked by a doctor in person. But as telemedicine minimizes the burden of medical visits for health issues that are easy to treat, it makes medical services more convenient for patients and medical services providers.
Telemedicine vs Telehealth
Telemedicine is the use of technology to offer clinical services remotely. It is a subset of telehealth, which includes remote health services given through technology, not just clinical services. Also, it includes other services such as health education and public health services.
Although telemedicine can benefit a lot of patients, it still comes with challenges. Some insurance companies do not cover telemedicine services and some telemedicine models can impact the continuity of care services that patients get.