Although telemedicine has been practiced for years, it becomes more popular than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the spread of the disease, healthcare providers leverage telemedicine to protect patients and their staff. In a lot of facilities, virtual care has been essential to screen and treat the deadly virus remotely. However, telemedicine also facilitates routine doctors visits that would be complicated or risky, especially during quarantine. It allows a telemedicine doctor to diagnose patients and monitor their conditions from afar. Read on to know the importance of telemedicine in today’s healthcare landscape:
Protecting Patients and Medical Personnel
As COVID-19 continues to become a healthcare threat, the risk of infection and the increasing demands on the healthcare system have compelled providers to use telemedicine as a safe and necessary tool. Primary care providers are offering virtual visits as a replacement for in-person visits. Practices use videoconferencing or integrate devices for remote patient monitoring.
Allowing More Seniors to Age in Place
With access to virtual healthcare services, many seniors can now decide to age in place. This minimizes the chances of this group getting infected by viruses and contagious diseases they can be exposed to during office visits. Telemedicine has become a necessity in this time when the older population must be safeguarded against the COVID-19 disease.
Saving Bed Space and Medical Supplies
Telemedicine has minimized the demand for medical supplies and hospital beds because it keeps low-risk patients at home. As a result, some medical systems do not become overwhelmed. Also, it allows clinicians to reach admitted patients through videoconferencing platforms and applications to limit exposure without using protective equipment.
Supporting Specialties
Because of the pandemic, specialists were forced to expand telemedicine for crucial needs including cardiovascular care. Telemedicine that covers this type of care includes virtual home visits, nurse-aid consultations performed at satellite clinics, and smartphone-based rehabilitation exercises. In addition, telemedicine allows people suffering from anxiety and stress that could be associated with the COVID-19 scare to access mental health therapy online.
Making Care Accessible to Populations in Need
Today, economic, racial, and geographic disparities still exist, hindering access to medical treatment. A shift to telemedicine could increase access to healthcare services for marginalized groups dealing with poor connectivity and limited resources. This is possible through the coronavirus response bill’s telehealth program, which supports providers who want to help patients acquire telecommunications services and devices to get connected care while they stay at home.
