by Telemedicine refers to the use of digital information and communication technologies, such as computers and mobile devices, to access healthcare services remotely and manage your health. Through telemedicine, patients can connect with doctors and other healthcare providers through virtual visits, video conferencing, remote patient monitoring, and more.
The Growth of Telehealth
The global telemedicine market has grown rapidly in recent years and is expected to continue expanding in the coming decade. Increased broadband internet access, advancing technology, and a push for more convenient virtual care options have all contributed to telemedicine’s rise. Between 2018 and 2025, the telemedicine industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 37% according to some estimates. This points to telemedicine becoming an increasingly integral part of how healthcare is delivered in the future.
Benefits of Telemedicine for Patients
For patients, telemedicine delivers a number of important benefits compared to traditional in-person visits:
– Greater Access and Convenience: Telehealth eliminates barriers like transportation issues or scheduling constraints that may prevent patients from accessing care. Virtual visits can take place from the comfort of home.
– Time Savings: Without the need to travel to and from appointments, telemedicine reduces the time commitment of receiving care. This is especially valuable for people balancing work, family responsibilities, and self-care.
– Reduced Costs: Telemedicine reduces indirect costs like copays for parking or transportation. It also prevents lost wages from missed work for appointments or delays in treatment seeking due to accessibility challenges.
– Expanded Provider Networks: Telemedicine enables patients to connect with specialists and subspecialists outside their local area when needed. This broadens care options without extensive traveling.
– Chronic Condition Management: Remote patient monitoring technologies support effective long-term management of conditions like diabetes and hypertension from home. Outcomes can equal or surpass traditional care.
Benefits of Telemedicine for Providers
Telemedicine also delivers benefits to healthcare providers. It allows them to:
– Reach More Patients: Virtual capabilities expand providers’ service areas, increasing the number of patients they can treat daily without adding physical space.
– Improve Access in Underserved Areas: Telemedicine helps address provider shortages in rural communities or other regions with limited in-person resources through tele-specialty services.
– Streamline Operations: Workflow efficiencies from telemedicine help maximize practice revenue potential. Documentation is streamlined through integrated electronic platforms.
– Enhance Convenience: Providers gain flexibility to render some services virtually on their own schedule instead of being limited by clinical hours.
– Mitigate Risk of Infection: During public health emergencies like the current pandemic, telemedicine reduces exposure risk for both patients and providers compared to in-person visits when feasible.
Telemedicine Modalities
There are many ways telemedicine services can be delivered depending on the situation. Common modalities include:
– Live Video Visits: Real-time two-way interactive video conferencing between patient and provider via computer, tablet or phone. Used for conditions not requiring physical exam.
– Store-and-Forward: Patients send health data like images, video or vital signs via secure portals for providers to review later and respond. Dermatology consults utilize store-and-forward frequently.
– Remote Patient Monitoring: Devices sent home transmit patient data like blood pressure, blood sugar levels or heart rate digitally to providers for ongoing management of chronic illnesses.
– Mobile Health (“mHealth” Apps): Apps on smartphones or tablets deliver care, education and management support outside traditional clinical settings. Examples include medicine reminders or symptom trackers.
– Telephonic Consultations: Audio-only telephone calls are leveraged when visual capabilities are not required. Common for follow-ups, prescription renewals and other routine care needs.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Telemedicine Adoption
The rapid spread of COVID-19 in early 2020 shone a spotlight on telemedicine’s potential like never before. With strict social distancing orders in place worldwide, in-person doctor visits presented an infection risk. This sparked an unprecedented surge in telemedicine use out of necessity.
Many governments and insurers relaxed regulations around telemedicine reimbursement during this emergency period. Providers also scrambled to implement telemedicine platforms and train staff on virtual care delivery. As a result, telemedicine usage increased by over 50% month-over-month from March through May 2020, with 154 million virtual visits in the U.S. alone over that period according to one study.
This large-scale experiment demonstrated telemedicine’s ability to help fill care gaps during a crisis. It also highlighted how much demand exists for virtual care alternatives on an ongoing basis. Experts forecast telemedicine adoptioncurves will remain elevated long past the pandemic as patients and providers recognize its benefits outside emergencies as well. The events of 2020 proved telemedicine has come of age.
The Future of Telemedicine
Looking ahead, telemedicine’s scope and integration within the healthcare system are likely to expand further. Some expected developments include:
– Increased Reimbursement Parity: Policy changes will drive more private and public payers to cover telemedicine on par with office visits, improving financial access.
growing Remote Patient Monitoring Adoption More patients, especially those with chronic diseases, will rely on devices and apps to better self-manage between provider check-ins.Wider Integration Telemedicine services willbecome routinely embedded within primary care provider workflowsand specialty practices versus operating as standalone systems.
Ravina Pandya
Ravina Pandya,Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. LinkedIn
