Health technology has always been one of the areas of science and technological development that sees serious innovation and technological advancement. There is a sense of urgency to it (what, after all, is more important than our health?) and it’s no secret that the pharmaceutical industry is worth billions. Moreover, despite the well-known criticisms, it is constantly on the search for the next medical breakthrough. There is no shortage of funding and there’s nobody that does not understand its importance of it.
And some of the most revolutionary breakthroughs have occurred within the field of patient care – something which, in many ways, is just as important. Patient care and patient healthcare experience have a well-known effect on everything from chances of recovery to the organization of healthcare institutions and the provision of care for as many people as need it. One of the revolutions we have seen in this field in recent years has been the rise of telehealth. Put another way, the remote provision of healthcare is helping thousands of patients avoid onerous or expensive trips to the hospital and allowing them to receive first-rate care in their homes.
What is Telehealth?
You have probably heard of telehealth, and it’s likely you’ll have a vague idea of what it is. Nevertheless, if you haven’t looked into the details, it’s likely you’ll have a few misconceptions about it as well. Kiya Longevity, a company offering naturopathic consultations – often via telehealth technology – stresses that telehealth is actually much more than simply using video conferencing to facilitate doctor-patient consultations. So what is it?
Far from simply being healthcare on a screen, telehealth is, in fact, a massive overhaul of the traditional healthcare operational process and the doctor-patient relationship. Its main advantage is that it makes healthcare more efficient and effective and eliminates age-old problems of over encumbered hospital wards, overworked doctors, and potentially detrimental hospital trips for vulnerable patients who would be much better recuperating in the place where they want to be.
In terms of the actual technology, telehealth has ushered in, two of the most familiar are video conferencing doctor consultations and self-service kiosks for the delivery of treatments and medication.
Telehealth Appointments
Telehealth appointments are facilitated by the kind of advanced video conferencing technology that is already making a massive impact in the world of business and has made possible the homeworking boom. For those that live far away or who are juggling jobs, trips back and forth from the hospital or clinic can be a pain. But more than that, they can be downright dangerous if the appointment is needed urgently or the act of traveling itself is difficult.
Also, for those with chronic conditions and who therefore require regular checkups to monitor their health, telehealth has been a godsend. It’s far easier to be checked up remotely, and telehealth also includes a means of making a medical assessment of the patient using devices located where the patient is. The data can then be quickly sent to the doctor.
Following that, medication or changes to treatment can also be facilitated remotely. To look again to the business world, if everything that used to require presence in an office can now be carried out remotely, then there is no reason why healthcare cannot too. This is the revolution that telehealth has ushered in.
Last Word
Ultimately, telehealth is the future of healthcare as well as its present. As the technology that facilitates it becomes increasingly advanced, there will be less requirement for patients to travel in order to receive first-rate care.
