Written by Leann Poston M.D.
How many times in the past seven months have you considered making a doctor’s appointment for either you or a family member and paused or put it off because of concerns about exposure to COVID in the physician’s office or waiting room? Just last year, telemedicine was only approved for certain situations and specific types of healthcare visits. Now it is everywhere and becoming the new norm. The COVID pandemic has highlighted the advantages of telemedicine, and most users do not want to return to a healthcare system that does not offer it as an option.
Granted, certain things cannot be done by telemedicine. A healthcare provider cannot physically examine you and you certainly cannot receive emergency care in a life-threatening situation, but how often is that needed?
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Download the GuideFor routine visits, repetitive issues, questions, and situations in which a physical exam does not provide any additional input to decision making, telemedicine has many benefits and very few drawbacks. Invigor Medical recognizes the limits of telemedicine and encourages you to consult with your primary care provider prior to requesting services.
Telemedicine involves the diagnosis and treatment of patients through telecommunications technology. —Medscape
According to Medscape (n.d), in a 2019 survey, 66% of consumers said they were willing to use telemedicine and 70% of employers said they were currently offering or planning to offer telehealth coverage for employees.
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Telemedicine improves the quality of healthcare. It increases both access and efficiency by reducing the need to travel. It provides greater access to those with barriers such as travel difficulties, poor health, and physical disabilities, which make travel challenging (Alvandi, 2017). Telemedicine makes it possible for seniors to stay in their homes longer and feel more connected to health care providers. Telestroke, telecardiology, teledermatology, telepediatrics, telepsychiatry, and teleneonatology care combine telemedicine for care visits with complex sensors and monitors.
Telemedicine makes it possible for patients to be more engaged and assume greater responsibility in their healthcare, seek healthcare earlier in a disease process, keep follow-up appointments, and maintain accurate and complete medical records.
Most people who try telemedicine are surprised. They report more time spent with their health care provider, the ability to ask more questions, and a feeling of partnership that may be missing in a medical office where they may feel at a disadvantage. There are many other advantages to telemedicine.
Read Also: Important benefits of telemedicine for patients
Some of the benefit cited by patients/clients include:
COVID brought about a revolution in healthcare that would not have been possible without it. Insurance companies that may have been slowly moving towards telemedicine were pushed because their enrollees needed safe, fast access to medical care. A sudden need is commonly the driving force for a revolution in access or technology, but the advantages of telemedicine are what will keep people from wanting to go back to a medical care system that did not include the option for telemedicine appointments.
When choosing to use telemedicine you should check to ensure that you know:
Read Also: Invigor Medical privacy policy
As you go down your checklist for a telemedicine provider to ensure they provide the telemedicine advantages you are seeking, we are sure you will find that Invigor Medical exceeds your expectations. A clear privacy policy advises you on exactly what information is collected and how it is used.
Your information is safe and secure as Invigor Medical uses a secure Sockets Protocol (SSL), which encrypts all financial information. It ensures that its security policies meet HIPAA compliant security standards.
Pre-COVID many people had not even considered telemedicine. Post-COVID, telemedicine is becoming a standard of care as users seek a more convenient and personal conversation with their health care provider. The pandemic brought about a revolution in health care access — telemedicine with its myriad benefits and advantages.
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