Most patient care happens within the doctor's office or emergency room. However, telemedicine offers a new method for physicians to examine patients without having them in the rooms.
Reaching remote areas
According to the U.S. Census, 19.3 percent of the U.S. population lives in rural areas. It can be difficult for those patients to see physicians in person. They might not live near an office or hospital or have the means to get to one. However, telemedicine solves this dilemma by allowing doctors to visit with patients from varying locations.
Through the use of video and audio conferencing, as well as patient portals, health care providers can talk with patients to assess their conditions and provide treatment, explained the American Telemedicine Association. This is especially useful for patients ages 60 and up, as they are more likely to have mobility issues, Forbes explained.
Provides flexibility
Even though patients and doctors might not be able to meet in-person, there are mobile services that can aid physicians in health care. Doctors can share electronic health records with specialists via teleradiology and PACS, mHealth Intelligence explained. While patients may not be located in the same area as their health care providers, they still receive the same treatment and care through the transmission of images and data between doctors.
There are also other mobile services, such as visiting nurses associations and X-ray technicians, that can examine patients and send information back to doctors for diagnoses and treatments. With the use of the Internet and EHR software, physicians and patients have more flexibility than before.
Saving patients and doctors money
According to a separate Forbes article, 35 percent of Americans are in debt because of medical bills, even though 70 percent have insurance. In-person health care visits can be pricey for even the covered person. Telemedicine cuts cost of medical care, and insurance providers have begun to include it in their plans.
Telemedicine also provides urgent care solutions. Not every issue is an emergency, but many cases end up in ERs because patients do not have constant access to primary care physicians, the source explained. This monopolizes resources that could have been used to help serious injuries and diseases. Telemedicine frees up both rooms and supplies by having patients contact virtual medical services for help. This saves hospitals money by not wasting resources. Patients also benefit financially from telehealth offices, saving upwards of $1,500 per urgent care visit. Telemedicine costs patients an average of $40 per consultation.
Fifteen million Americans are expected to use telehealth services in 2015, according to the source. By simplifying medicine, more patients are able to get the care they need in an efficient and cost-effective way.
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Ronny Bachrach
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