Telemedicine has advanced the medical field and healthcare delivery by great leaps. People who live far away from the closest clinical healthcare provider now have ease of access to care, monitoring, and dialogue with their chosen health professionals because of telecommunication and information technology. Even people who are in critical condition and who need emergency aid can be reached through telemedicine.
Image source: chronicletodaynetwork.com
Thanks to advancements in science and technology, communication between patients and doctors has evolved. Vital information concerning a patient’s situation or medical history or a doctor’s instructions can be transmitted from one site to another clearly and expediently.
The biggest beneficiaries of telemedicine are people who live in relative isolation, or those who live in remote areas. Technological advancements enable quick and easy interaction between patients and doctors, hosting conversations in platforms simulating clinical setups. This also reduces outpatient visits, as it allows for the verification of remote prescription. Telemedicine also enables doctors to oversee drug administration. All these ultimately lower the cost of medical care.
Image source: ne-equip.org
Telemedicine can also help delivery remediation between healthcare professionals and the patient via Internet and two-way conversations in which both can see one another and discuss problems, issues, and solutions face to face, but over long distances.
Telemedicine also significantly reduces the risk of contagion, especially between patients with highly infectious diseases and medical staff. It is also a friendly option for patients who aren’t comfortable in hospital or clinical environments.
These are just some of the advantages offered by telemedicine. However, it is still a work in progress and technology is still being developed to improve communication between healthcare providers and patients.
Dr. Curtis Cripe is a neuroengineer and the head of the Research and Development department of NTL group. Telemedicine is one of his specializations. Learn more about Dr. Cripe’s work by following this blog site.
