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Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, more and more patients and doctors are relying on telemedicine services to give and receive medical treatment. Telemedicine allows doctors to interact with patients virtually, and can include using video conferencing technologies to talk to a patient as well as using Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices to collect vital signs and other important data.
If you haven’t tried telemedicine yet, you should make it a more regular part of your healthcare routine. Telemedicine is less demanding on the healthcare system than seeing doctors in person for every ailment. You can use telemedicine to see a doctor without leaving home and without risking exposure to infectious diseases (or risking exposing anyone else to your infectious disease). You’ll have more access to care that might not be available in your area, for both acute and chronic conditions. Overall, you’ll find that it’s a lot easier and more convenient to use telemedicine – it saves you time and it can also save you money.
Telemedicine Eases Stress on the Healthcare System
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed extreme stress on the healthcare system. Many institutions have found themselves at capacity during spikes of the illness, and most have chosen to cancel elective procedures and switch to virtual care whenever possible to ease the burden. Using telemedicine helps you do your part to keep the healthcare system from getting overwhelmed. It’s easier for doctors to reach patients virtually – they don’t have to use up personal protective equipment and they can keep low-risk patients at home, where they won’t take up space and resources at the hospital.
You’ll Avoid Exposure to Infectious Diseases
These days, you really have to weigh whether going to see a doctor is worth the risk of contracting COVID-19, or the flu or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or any of the other infectious respiratory diseases that are currently reaching epidemic levels in the U.S. When you use telemedicine to see a doctor virtually, you don’t have to go sit in his or her waiting room with a bunch of sick people, and run the risk of either catching something from one of them, or giving some of them what you’ve got, or, for extra fun, both.
You’ll Have Greater Access to Care
Lots of people who live rurally or who live in poverty don’t have access to care nearby, especially care from specialists. With telemedicine, you can access care from specialists no matter where they are. All you need is a device that can access the internet. You can check test results, request refills, record vital signs and other measurements, coordinate care between your primary provider and your specialists, communicate with your doctor, schedule appointments, and more all from the privacy of your home.
You Can Receive Acute Care or Manage Chronic Conditions
Whether you need to get antibiotics online for a straightforward infection, or manage a chronic condition like diabetes, depression, or high blood pressure, you can use telemedicine. Sure, you might not be able to use telemedicine to get a diagnosis every time. For example, if your doctor needs to do a hands-on examination, or order imaging tests or bloodwork, you’re going to need to go into a facility for that.
But there are lots of chronic and acute conditions that can be treated with telemedicine. Doctors are more likely to treat acute conditions that are easy to diagnose and that you may have had before, like sinus infections or respiratory illnesses. Telemedicine is also ideal for managing chronic conditions. For example, a cardiologist can use a combination of virtual visits, phone-assisted rehab exercises, and nurse-facilitated consultations at satellite facilities to manage a complex heart condition. Psychiatrists also often use telemedicine to perform checkups and therapists use for sessions.
It’s More Convenient to Use Telemedicine
While telemedicine might be a little weird at first, you can’t beat the convenience. With telemedicine, you don’t need to get up, get dressed, and go out to the doctor’s office when you’re not feeling well. It’s so much easier to just do a virtual visit from your own bed or couch. You’ll get the care you need faster and you won’t have to spend money on gas to get there. Some insurers might even offer lower copays for telemedicine to encourage people to use these valuable services.
If you haven’t used telemedicine yet for your basic healthcare needs, it’s time to give it a try. Virtual doctor visits put the care you need at your fingertips, so you can focus on feeling better.
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