Telemedicine has existed for more than 20 years, but it's adoption hasn't been widespread until today. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, patients are turning to their screens rather than proceed to the nearest emergency room. With virtual consultation services, a person can have his/her medical issues addressed without having to leave home.
Today's health crisis put telehealth into the spotlight, and for good reason. Here are four reasons why telemedicine will soon become a huge part of the new normal.
It reduces admission rates in hospitals
Hospital admission rates have spiked due to individuals seeking treatment for COVID-19. Telehealth can help reduce that by enabling health practitioners to see patients over video for a post-surgical checkup, follow-up care, and health checkups not related to coronavirus.
It can cut costs
Given a lot of patients are covered under value-based or alternative reimbursement arrangements, hospitals need to be creative in order to manage chronically ill patients more efficiently. By reducing the number of preventable admissions from different health issues like dehydration, heart conditions, and diabetes, hospitals can save on costs.
In addition, telemedicine encourages convenient and consistent monitoring for those at-risk for admission, ensuring patients are as healthy as they can be.
It has the potential to deliver better experience
Most patients end up giving telehealth encounters a huge thumbs up. In fact, 97% of patients report satisfaction with online consultation services because it reduces travel time and costs, wait times, plus it's available even after-hours. It also allows patients to contact their primary care provider directly even in times of emergency.
Due to telemedicine's high satisfaction ratings, more people will be enticed in availing online services. It will also attract new patients beyond the immediate vicinity of that health system or the hospital associated with it.
It can help improve clinical outcomes
Patients proactive in their care are more likely to have better outcomes. Telehealth can be the platform that will push patients to be more compliant with medication and post-discharge instructions and allow them to connect with their physicians more easily.
Of course, there are limitations to telemedicine -- complex diagnoses and treatments cannot be catered online. If a physician finds that a patient's case isn't something that can be dealt with online, that patient will be referred to a hospital or clinic.
But it goes without saying that this type of technology can play an important role in easing some of the initial load from walk-in patients. We need more room for coronavirus patients, and people need to understand that this global pandemic is straining the healthcare facilities.
With telemedicine, patients and care providers can work together to build a better healthcare system.
