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Telemedicine: What It Is and How It Can Help Patients
Telemedicine is a healthcare delivery model where patients and providers communicate using telecommunication technologies rather than visiting a healthcare center.
This model of care offers an alternative to geographic health disparities, where people in rural and remote areas have difficulty accessing healthcare services. A local provider can deliver telemedicine through video conferencing or other technologies that allow for communication.
A Brief History of Telemedicine
The re-emergence of telemedicine during the COVID-19 period was a sign of the technological advancements we have made so far in medicine and how the technology would change the future of healthcare. It did not just arise from thin air. Telemedicine has been around since the early 1960s in military and rural areas.
In the 1980s, the government enacted federal regulations that allowed healthcare delivery through new technologies. The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) resulted from the new rules around 1993. The once silent field of medicine is now snowballing and is estimated to be a $191.7 Billion industry by 2025.
What Are the Effects of Telemedicine on Internal Medicine
Telemedicine is critical to internal medicine because it allows doctors to care for patients who live far away from the office. Telemedicine tools can help doctors communicate with patients over long distances, enabling them to keep up with their health needs even when they're not in town.
Telemedicine is not limited to telephone conversations between patients and physicians. Instead, you can define it also as the access to healthcare services and clinical expertise that utilizes information and communication technologies.
This broad definition includes many applications such as teleconsultation, remote patient monitoring, and other health care modalities.
Telemedicine can be especially beneficial for people who have trouble accessing medical care because of their location, life situation, or health conditions.
For example: If you live in an isolated area where it's challenging to get to a doctor, telemedicine may allow you to receive care from a doctor far away without driving long distances. If travel is difficult due to your health status or someone close to you, telemedicine can allow for easier access to healthcare services when and where they are needed most.
Is telemedicine safe?
Telemedicine is a safe and effective way to provide medical care. It's important to understand that the doctor is not in the room with you.
Instead, they use the same equipment and procedures as in-person care. This means that all of your information is secure and private during treatment.
Because it uses technology, telemedicine can help treat patients worldwide who may not have access to traditional medical services otherwise.
What Are the Pros of Telemedicine?
The healthcare industry has been slow to adopt telemedicine because it can be difficult and expensive to set up, but many benefits make it worth the investment:
1) It reduces the physician's travel time
This means that they can see more patients in a day than they could previously, saving them both time and money.
For example, if your physician is in Boston and you are in Los Angeles, it could take several hours for them to travel to your house for an in-person appointment.
However, with telemedicine, physicians can spend their time with patients who live closer. This means that the doctor can see more patients during a typical day and that they'll have access to care when they need it.
2) It allows patients to receive treatment from doctors who are experts in their field:
If you're going through cancer treatment, your doctor must have experience treating cancer patients. However, with telemedicine, you don't have to worry about traveling long distances or taking time off work to see a doctor who specializes in treating cancer patients. Instead, you can connect with an expert from anywhere at any time. The best thing is, you will get to stay close to home while doing so!
3) It allows medical professionals from different areas of expertise to collaborate on patient care:
Telemedicine allows medical professionals with different expertise and locations to collaborate on patient care.
It is especially beneficial for patients who need access to multiple doctors and specialists at once or those who need immediate attention from a doctor but lives far away from a hospital or clinic.
It is Convenient and Easy to Access
Telemedicine allows you to access your medical records and communicate with your doctor through the internet.
This makes it convenient for patients who need ongoing care and may be too ill to travel long distances to see their doctor.
It Can Improve Patient Engagement
Telemedicine allows for more personalized care, which can help improve patient engagement and satisfaction. Studies have found that when patients are engaged with their healthcare providers, they are more likely to follow the treatment recommendations and achieve better outcomes.
Patients with chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease schedule appointments with doctors online when they need them rather than until they're well enough to make an appointment at an office visit. This means that they don't have to miss work or school because they feel well enough today but not tomorrow (or vice versa).
Aids in the Control of Infectious Diseases
As more and more people travel worldwide, infectious diseases have become an increasingly common public health problem. Telemedicine can help control these diseases by allowing medical professionals to collaborate across borders to share information about new cases. It also helps them identify outbreaks early on, prevent them from spreading further, and provide quick treatment for patients infected with infectious diseases. It also reduces the spread of illness among communities and helps keep people safe from infection.
Cons of Telemedicine
Telemedicine can help in diagnosing illness but not treating it. This means that patients still need to go through the physical process of visiting a doctor or hospital. It's also not recommended for patients with severe diseases like cancer or AIDS because it is not a substitute for in-person treatment. Physicians and other medical professionals are not physically in the same room as you in telemedicine. This means that you cannot touch someone through an IV, give them any medication by mouth, or perform a physical exam on them yourself.
Even if you have a trusted doctor or nurse who will perform these tasks for you, it's essential to understand that they follow protocols set by your health plan or other organization.
Takeaway
Telemedicine is a great way to deliver care and diagnose illness remotely. Providing quality medical care allows doctors to connect with patients who might never have access to proper care.
It also allows patients in rural areas or those with mobility issues to get the same level of treatment as everyone else. With the help of technology and remote medical consultation, patients can receive the care they need when they need it.
At Comprehensive Care Group, we provide telemedicine in Plantation and other parts of South Florida. Our mission is to provide high-quality, cost-effective healthcare to patients in the community.
Are you looking for telemedicine in Florida? We will take care of you regardless of where you are, so don't hesitate to schedule an appointment with us to learn more about how you can benefit from telemedicine. Checkout our resources and contact us for more information today!