Telemedicine uses electronic and telecommunication technology to provide an exchange of medical information, despite a person and their doctor not being in the same room.
It can be as simple as text messaging medical care to as advanced as remotely controlled surgery.
Experts have used telemedicine in clinical settings for decades, with its first reference in a clinical setting recorded in medical literature in the late 1950–1960s Telemedicine allows a person to seek a doctor’s advice about nonemergency situations that do not require an in-office visit.
Currently, 76% of hospitals in the United States connect with people at a distance. They do this through video conferencing or other technology.
With telemedicine, people can access care in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. This reduces the need to travel, arrange for child care, and leave work.
It cuts off waiting time and allows people to arrange their consultations around their busy schedules.
Telemedicine helps make healthcare accessible, especially for people living in rural areas.
A 2020 study found that telemedicine provides some of the population access to care without potential:
Telemedicine consultations may be more affordable than in-person doctor visits and admission to the emergency rooms.
A 2020 review found that there was a reduction in health costs by 56% and travel costs by 94% when doctors used telemedicine in the following settings:
intensive care unit (ICU) rooms
Telemedicine allows family members and caregivers to join in the consultation, ask questions, and provide information to contribute to their family member’s care.
A 2021 review found that telemedicine helps provide timely delivery of preventive care to people with cardiovascular diseases. This helps prevent acute events and the progression of these diseases.
Telemedicine helps healthcare professionals like occupational and physical therapists observe a person in their natural environment. This allows them to perform more thorough evaluations of the person’s abilities to move around and interact with their environment.
Below are some common questions and answers on telemedicine.
The costs vary on the telemedicine provider, the specialization of the doctor, and whether it is an evaluation or a follow-up visit.
On average, a single visit costs $79. This is significantly cheaper than a doctor’s visit, which costs $146, or an emergency visit which costs $1,734.
Anyone seeking medical treatment can use telemedicine. This may especially benefit those who are:
Telemedicine bridges the exchange of medical information between the doctor and the patient through technology.
The service ranges from email to sharing relevant information and test results to robotic-assisted interventions.
Telemedicine offers a range of benefits, including comfort, convenience, savings, more contextualized assessments, and the involvement of family members in a person’s care.
However, it has drawbacks, including compliance and liability concerns and technological glitches.
Those who want to opt for this mode of care may ask their practitioners if they provide telemedicine. A person may also consider different telemedicine companies with practitioners licensed to treat in their location.