What are some of the benefits of Telemedicine?

With the rapid advancement of technology in conjunction with a global pandemic, Telemedicine unsurprisingly gained popularity this year. But what is telemedicine exactly, and how does it benefit you?

According to the AAFP, “Telemedicine is the practice of medicine using technology to deliver care at a distance. A physician in one location uses a telecommunications infrastructure to deliver care to a patient at a distant site.”

Patient Benefits

1. Quicker and more efficient access to healthcare

   Telemedicine removes the need for travel time and waiting rooms, allowing patients to access their healthcare providers from a distance. Given our nation’s climate today, there are patients who may not be comfortable traveling to a hospital or medical center to seek medical attention. With telemedicine, healthcare providers can be seen from the comfort of your own home.

2. Cost effectiveness

   Telemedicine visits are less costly than typical in-office physician visits. Moreover, taking time off work to travel to a medical office would not be necessary, thus eliminating transportation costs.

3. Increased access to healthcare

   For those living in rural areas, receiving medical attention can be challenging. Rather than driving hours to see a specialist, telemedicine fills the gap where physician shortages exist. Additionally, these virtual physician visits can be used to address any non-emergency healthcare issues and help with the management of routine medications or psychiatric conditions through the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic (KFF).

4. Telemedicine can be used to support in person visits

   Not all medical issues can be addressed via telemedicine. However, if frequent follow-up visits are required, patients have the option of alternating between in-person and web conferencing visits with their physicians.

Healthcare Provider Benefits

1. Additional income

   Supplemental to providing in-person treatment, healthcare providers can tap into an additional stream of income through telemedicine.  Providers can treat higher numbers of patients than they typically have access to in just their physical offices alone.

2. Increased patient engagement

   Through telemedicine, a higher frequency in follow-up sessions can be arranged, further strengthening the patient-provider relationship. Additionally, no-shows are less likely to occur because of the convenience of virtual visits.

3. Decreased exposure to potential illnesses

   Healthcare providers can avoid extended exposure to illnesses and pathogens when using telemedicine.

4. Ability to see patients while quarantining

   Certain physician practices had to temporarily close their doors, due to shelter-in-place orders nationwide. Telemedicine helps maintain social distancing while still giving the healthcare providers the opportunity to see patients.

While telemedicine cannot replace in-person care completely, it tackles a wide range of medical issues. Rather than browsing the internet for answers regarding medical concerns, patients can easily access and speak with a healthcare professional to receive viable and personalized information.

If you are a healthcare professional that is interested in providing telemedicine coverage, please contact us now.