Telemedicine isn’t meant to take the place of face-to-face visits. While it does have some disadvantages, which we’ll get into later, its benefits are undeniable.
They include:
1. Easy access to specialists
Not everyone has an ongoing relationship with a doctor they can call when they need one. Many online medical networks offer round-the-clock access to all kinds of specialists, without an appointment, at any time of day or night.
2. Lower cost
Doctors and therapists can be expensive, even for people with good health insurance. Telemedicine appointments typically cost less than in-person visits do. This reduces out-of-pocket costs, removing a barrier to care.
3. Medical access for people without health insurance
Not having adequate health insurance can be an obstacle to seeing a doctor. Many online companies provide cash-pay telemedicine, which doesn’t require health insurance or referrals.
4. Medical access for people in rural areas
Country living has many benefits, but fast access to medical care isn’t always one of them. For people who live many miles from the nearest medical facility, telemedicine provides a way to meet with a doctor quickly.
This saves time and allows people to stay off the road when driving conditions are less than optimal, such as during a snowstorm or hailstorm.
5. Medical access for people in underserved urban areas
The trend of hospital closures in inner-city neighborhoods has affected thousands of Americans, especially communities of color and people without health insurance.
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Telemedicine helps break this cycle by providing a way for people to see a doctor before they get extremely sick.
6. Reduced exposure to pathogens
Hours-long waits in doctors’ waiting rooms with other patients can contribute to the spread of COVID-19, the flu, and other viruses. Telehealth keeps patients at home, avoiding exposure to viruses and germs. This helps protect medical professionals as well.
7. Middle-of-the-night care for babies and children
Babies have a knack for spiking fevers or getting sick in the middle of the night. Rather than rely on an internet search, parents can use telehealth services to connect quickly with doctors who can give answers and provide a diagnosis, and even a prescription, when needed.
8. No need for childcare
Parents get sick, too, and it can be challenging to take little ones along to a doctor’s visit. Telehealth eliminates this need, as well as the additional cost of childcare.
9. Doctors get to stay home too
During the pandemic, many medical offices have closed or reduced their hours. Cybersecurity tools such as virtual private networks have enabled doctors and therapists to treat patients safely from their home offices. This access also allows doctors and patients to connect after hours and on weekends.
10. Reduced medical overhead costs
For doctors, telemedicine helps lower office costs, such as the need for front desk help.
11. Insurance reimbursement
Medicare and many private health insurance companies now allow doctors and therapists to bill for telehealth services, no matter where the patient or provider is located.
However, since state laws and insurance plans vary, be sure to check your policy’s requirements and restrictions before seeing a doctor remotely.
12. Support for people with chronic conditions
At-home monitoring tools that transmit readings to medical professionals can signal new symptoms, worsening health, and potential emergencies. This can help people get fast interventions, which may be lifesaving.
13. Online psychiatric support
COVID-19 has made it difficult for many people to see therapists face-to-face. Telemedicine has allowed therapeutic care to start or continue for people experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
14. Emergency psychiatric care
People experiencing mental health emergencies, including those who are at risk for self-harm, can quickly connect with a therapist or psychiatrist at any time of the day or night.
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15. Peer-to-peer support
Online therapist-led support groups have brought together people who are coping with challenges such as bereavement or infertility.
16. Reduced anxiety
Many people simply don’t like to go to the doctor. In some cases, phobias such as agoraphobia may prevent people from seeking care. Telehealth provides a way to ask questions and access medical support without leaving home.
17. Physical therapy at home
For people undergoing physical therapy, telemedicine allows physical therapists to supervise and view exercises and therapies done with supports in the home. This can help people recuperate from accidents and surgeries more quickly.
— Update: 10-02-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article Telehealth: 8 Key Benefits For Healthcare Providers from the website www.bestdocapp.com for the keyword what is the key benefit of telehealth.
1. Ensures A Seamless Care Delivery Experience
Healthcare providers can now easily offer their services online by adopting teleconsultation solutions. By doing this, hospitals can provide patient-centric care beyond their physical facilities and build a stronger patient base. Also, the integration of telehealth records with electronic medical records ensures a seamless information flow and improves the patient experience.
2. Better Facilitate Follow-Up Visits & Second Opinions
Telehealth is changing the way healthcare is delivered and seen. It allows collaboration between physicians, the nursing staff, the administrators, and the patients. For example, telehealth makes follow-ups easy both for patients and doctors. Plus, it also allows patients to get real-time, second opinion consultation access to specialists for complex cases.
3. Ensures Timely Care
No matter how far a patient is from the medical center, telehealth gives the provider the ability to expand their reach to patients in a minimum time without entering medical facilities. Teleconsultation solutions incorporate a wide range of care processes to deliver medical services with ease.
Moreover, teleconsultation solutions make prenatal care easy and hassle-free, especially for patients living on the outskirts.
4. Boosts Patient Engagement
Being able to access via a digital device such as a mobile phone or laptop can proactively keep the patients engaged in healthcare. With a telehealth platform, patients can easily book their appointments and manage other processes such as making payments or rescheduling appointments without any assistance.
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They can have real-time interaction with their doctors through video conferences or audio calls. Not just that, patients can also share their past medical reports with their care provider and can also download the medical prescription using this platform.
5. Increases Providers’ Revenue
Telehealth aims to reduce the total cost of care. Doctors can generate new revenue as telehealth allows them to reach a whole new population of patients beyond the borders of their towns and cities. Additionally, since teleconsultation makes it easy for patients to follow up, it can lead to increased revenues from patients who may not be keen on follow-up if their health has recovered. Also, with second opinions made easy by telehealth, this can lead to an additional stream of revenues.
Hence, healthcare providers can see an increase in the patient’s footfall by adopting these virtual solutions.
6. Reduces Patient No Shows
Patients not showing up on their appointments at the last minute can drastically hit healthcare providers’ revenues and impact efficiency. In addition, hospital staff needs to follow up with the patient to reschedule their canceled appointments. This takes up staffs’ extra time that they can utilize in some important tasks.
Fortunately, with digital convenience offered by telehealth, patients can see doctors’ availability and also have the ability to reschedule their appointments on their own. Hence, telehealth offers higher flexibility to both doctors and patients.
7. Increases Patient Satisfaction
Virtual services offered by telehealth support building a strong doctor-patient relationship. From booking an online appointment to paying the bills digitally everything is made convenient for patients. Using these services, patients spend less time on medical visits and also save on travel expenses. This can ultimately enhance the patient experience resulting in better patient satisfaction scores.
8. Drives Patient Loyalty
Telehealth holds higher importance for patients living in remote areas. It offers better healthcare choices such as access to high-quality healthcare facilities and better emergency services. The ease of use, cost savings, and better quality of care drives patient loyalty and also improve patient outcomes.
