Telemedicine isn’t new, but it is changing medical services faster now. For decades, the best way to get medical treatment has been to physically go to the doctor’s office, hospital or clinic. But increasingly, people are looking for alternatives to driving or flying in order to receive care from their physicians and surgeons without having to sit in an office waiting room. So what are some of the biggest trends in remote or telemedicine services?
Telemedicine is beneficial in several ways
It saves costs for large companies. – Employees are more productive because they don’t have to take time off work or daycare when seeing a doctor. – Employees that travel frequently don’t have to go through different doctors in each state, saving them time. – Telemedicine can expand a company’s ability to hire individuals in rural areas where it might be difficult for new workers to get trained at hospitals nearby.
Telemedicine makes health care more accessible
If you live in a rural area or your job requires you to travel frequently, using remote medical services can be very beneficial. Depending on your insurance plan, it could save your company a lot of money by allowing employees’ health care needs to be met without requiring their physical presence at a medical office. Additionally, some patients simply prefer engaging with doctors via video conferencing versus traditional in-person visits.
Telemedicine can be used by any age group
The world of healthcare is rapidly changing, and in a short period of time, there will be no age group that can’t benefit from some form of remotely administered care. Telemedicine helps people who are sick or injured to get better faster by giving them access to doctors that may not be easily accessible. No matter how old you are, if you’re sick or hurt, a doctor can help.
Remote health devices are also a growing trend
Currently, there are an estimated 2 million medical devices in homes across the country. Given that most of these are connected to a Wi-Fi network or cell phone service, there’s no reason why some of them couldn’t be used as a tool for doctors to remotely monitor your health data and provide advice over email or through video chat.
The technology continues to improve
Medical professionals are looking for ways to reduce inefficiencies in our healthcare system. Telemedicine is one of those areas that seems poised for growth as more people demand access to healthcare from home. Now, you might be wondering if a doctor’s visit isn’t supposed to be a face-to-face experience—and it certainly is—but there are plenty of other options, too. In fact, some studies show that up to 1 in 10 patients use telehealth services today and demand is only going up.
Insurance companies continue to support these innovations
Since health insurance is often a significant expense for individuals, many companies continue to expand their coverage of out-of-office medical procedures. This can make it easier for patients to seek treatment from a doctor of their choice—regardless of where that provider may be located. Further, these advancements are lowering costs while increasing access.
The field will continue to grow, especially with new technological advances
Telemedicine technology is constantly improving, and getting better at simulating in-person doctor’s visits. And although we won’t be waving goodbye to physical medical offices anytime soon, people will be more likely to choose virtual clinics over traditional offices in certain cases—particularly when they’re staying out of town for a while, or would otherwise have trouble accessing care.
