The internet is here to make our lives a little bit easier! Telemedicine is the up and coming example of that. Telemedicine uses technology to link patients to healthcare providers to help them receive treatment without having to make a trip to the doctor’s office. This is a quick growing service that many patients are taking advantage of.

What is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine is a remote delivery service that delivers clinical information and health care services using telecommunications technology. It offers a variety of clinical services while using the internet, satellite, wireless, and telephone media. Telemedicine is an affordable and safe way of delivering health care. It is guided by clinical practice guidelines, along with having decades of research and demonstrations being put into the service. Telemedicine is growing very quickly as a component of health care in America.
Telemedicine has many benefits that cater to a patient:

• Diagnose common medical issues, like sore throat, back pain headache, troubles with digestion.
• Post treatment check-ins or follow up for any chronic care
• Quickly refill short-term prescriptions
• Provide health care during situations when regular medical treatment is not possible, like holidays, weekends, or late at night.
• Treat patients that do not have the ability to leave their home.
• Provide information about medical issues for home treatments.

How Does an eVisit Work?
Normally, using telemedicine requires that the patient creates an online account or calls a toll-free phone number. The patient requests a visit and provides some general information concerning their condition. The visit request is either accepted or declined by the physician.
For a visit with the physician, the patient will need a high-quality webcam and sound equipment in order to give the visit a more in-person experience. Make sure to set the camera at eye-level; it will make it easier to achieve eye contact and engage with the physician.
Many telemedicine platforms have a notification system that will notify the patient when their doctor is ready to see them, so having their notifications on will help them ensure not to miss their time with the physician.
Making sure to have a strong internet connection will help to ensure that the medical visit will go smoothly and quickly, as well.

Different Types of Telemedicine
Real-Time (Live Telemedicine)
Real-time telemedicine includes the options of video conferencing and phone consultations. Both of these options allow the patient and provider to communicate in real-time.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Physicians can monitor their patients’ health information from a distance, most likely the patient is in their own home.
Store-and-Forward Practices
This telemedicine makes patient records and information accessible over long distances. No appointment is necessary. This option is beneficial for solving minor medical issues.

Telemedicine has the power to improve communication between patients and providers over long distances. Technology never fails to come up with a new way to help. Start using the new innovative way of healthcare today!

Categories: Health