Telehealth has become increasingly prominent with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the reason for the telehealth boom, the benefits of telemedicine and its increasing popularity lead many individuals to continue seeking out this appointment style.
Telemedicine involves the ability to receive healthcare, such as meeting with a doctor, in a virtual setting. It is beneficial because telemedicine allows you to see a doctor without physically going to the doctor’s office. However, this is not the only benefit, and there are many additional reasons why patients prefer telemedicine to in-person visits.
Why is Telehealth Important?
The primary importance of telehealth is that it provides a healthcare option for individuals who cannot or do not want to go into a doctor’s office, for whatever reason that may be. Telehealth is also important because it provides an additional way to protect both medical personnel and patients from contagious diseases, including the coronavirus.
What are the Advantages of Telemedicine?
Telehealth has an advantage over in-person care because it offers a way for you to receive care faster, while also being more appealing in many cases because of its convenience.
What are the Benefits of Telehealth?
Listed below are the primary telehealth benefits.
Convenience
The number one benefit of telemedicine is how convenient it is. For some individuals, the doctor’s office is a long car ride away, requiring them to give up a good chunk of their day to go to the appointment. Telemedicine offers a way to forego this long time spent in the car, allowing the patient to simply hop onto their appointment when it is time, wherever they may be.
This means that it is easier to attend an appointment, and it is also easier to work around a busy schedule and have an appointment at a time that works for you.
For those who work or have children, this convenience means that you might not have to take time off work or arrange for childcare, saving you the added stress and money that is associated with these circumstances.
Comfort
When we are sick, all we want is to stay in a comfortable place, and a doctor’s office is never as comfortable as our own house. With telehealth, you can meet with a doctor without having to leave your couch.
Even more than that, you don’t have to sit in a waiting room until it is time to see the doctor. You get to remain in comfort the entire time that you wait for your appointment to start.
Controls Infectious Diseases
Besides COVID-19, there are other infectious diseases, such as the flu, that the doctor’s office is especially prone to spread. If you have one of these illnesses, telehealth offers a way to ensure that you do not spread it to anyone else, endangering them, while also ensuring that you get the care you need.
Telehealth also helps to protect your chances of contracting an infectious disease since you get to remain in the safety of your house without fear of coming into someone who is contagious.
Family Participation
For some individuals, it may be beneficial to have a family member present who can help provide information, ask questions, and be an extra set of ears regarding the doctor’s answers. However, if scheduling a doctor’s appointment around one schedule is challenging, scheduling it around two (especially if the family member is not in a close-by town) can seem impossible. Telemedicine makes it possible for family members to easily join in on the meeting.
Benefits of Telemedicine for Patients
As you can see, there are many benefits of telemedicine for patients. In addition to those listed above, telemedicine can also make it easier for patients to receive a refill on their medicine. These appointments are often considered a waste of time when it comes to going into the office, especially for those who do not need a physical exam and only need their prescription to be rewritten.
The convenience of telemedicine is especially beneficial for these individuals since they can easily and quickly get their refill without having to travel all the way to the doctor’s office for an appointment that is not necessary.
Benefits of Telemedicine for Doctors
Telemedicine also offers many benefits to the doctors who choose to offer this service. For one, telemedicine helps to limit their exposure to contagious disease, protecting their health and the health of other medical personnel who work in the office.
In addition, telehealth offers a way for a doctor to help more individuals. One advantage of telehealth is that the appointments are much more focused, translating to shorter appointment times. This means that the doctor is able to see and help more patients throughout the day.
Telemedicine also offers a way for the doctor to observe their patient in their home environment, which may allow them to make a better diagnosis.
Try a Telemedicine App
For those interested in telemedicine because of the numerous benefits it offers, a telemedicine app is something especially helpful to consider. With a telemedicine app, such as DrHouse, you can meet with a licensed doctor within 15 minutes and receive a prescription for any medication you may need. In addition, the app also allows you to schedule a same-day in-person visit, if needed.
Apps such as DrHouse aim to streamline the telehealth process, allowing you to quickly and easily receive the care you need so that you can be feeling better, faster.
Key Takeaways
Telemedicine is an entity that has continued to grow in popularity since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the many benefits it offers, it will only continue to grow. These benefits include increased convenience and comfort, better control over infectious diseases, and the ability for the family to more easily join in on appointments.
Telehealth is important because it offers a healthcare option for individuals who struggle, or don’t want to, travel to an office. It also is beneficial for doctors, protecting their health while also allowing them to help more individuals.
One of the best ways to experience the advantage of telemedicine is through a telehealth app, such as DrHouse, where you can meet with a doctor in 15 minutes, receive prescriptions, and schedule same-day in-person visits.
Sources:
- Gajarawala, S., & Pelkowski, J. (2021). Telehealth Benefits and Barriers. The Journal For Nurse Practitioners, 17(2), 218-221. doi: https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.09.013
- Bagayoko, C., Traoré, D., Thevoz, L., Diabaté, S., Pecoul, D., & Niang, M. et al. (2014). Medical and economic benefits of telehealth in low- and middle-income countries: results of a study in four district hospitals in Mali. BMC Health Services Research, 14(S1). doi: https://www.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-14-s1-s9
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