How can doctors benefit from telemedicine?

Overview

Telemedicine has come as a blessing in the lives of healthcare professionals. It is a way for a doctor to consult with a patient remotely, using video conferencing technology.

Telehealth has made virtual patient care possible. Improved technology has made telemedicine easier and healthcare organizations are expanding their telehealth options. Telemedicine makes access to care easier and more manageable

What is telemedicine?

Telemedicine, sometimes also known as telehealth allows patients to consult with providers without an in-person visit. It is conducted through stable internet access on the smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Telehealth provides patients with several options such as:

• Live phone or video call with your provider.
• Secure sharing of information through phone calls, mails, messages.
• Remote monitoring of patient's vital signs

Why is telemedicine more efficient for providers?

Since 2017 the adoption of telemedicine in practices has risen to 71 percent.

Based on a study by Harvard Medical School, a typical visit a patient makes to see a doctor consumes about 121 minutes of the patient’s time, including travel and waiting to fill form. Here is where telemedicine plays a significant role in saving time for both, patients and providers.

1. Telemedicine software makes it more efficient for providers to give virtual care to many patients through video visits as compared to in-person visits. Using these virtual services also increases the revenue stream of healthcare providers.
2. Providers need not worry about being exposed to illness and infections as they can remotely monitor patients through telemedicine software.
3. Telemedicine is rewarding for office staff as well. Virtual visits make everything more efficient as it eliminates administrative overhead of in-person visits, less waiting room crowd.
4. It focuses on patient engagement that helps providers give patient-centric care. Altogether, there are happier employees and delighted customers

Here are some benefits of utilizing telemedicine for patient care:

1. Work-Life Balance: Having a work-life balance is essential. Without sacrificing personal time, medical professionals can conduct visits via video in less time than traditional office visits. Hence, Doctors can see more patients in less time.

2. Prevents Doctor’s Burnout: A survey by Medscape showed foremost reasons for doctors' burnout those are:

1. i. Spending too many hours at work
2. ii. Having a lot of documentation to complete
3. iii. Decreasing reimbursement

Thus, Telemedicine lends a helping hand to manage workflow, allowing providers to find time for themselves. Providers can spend time with family and friends, engage in outdoor activities and physical exercise to keep healthy and fit.

3. Better Assessment: Telemedicine makes it easier to get counseling and mental health assessments, especially in rural areas. Healthcare professionals can provide the best of care to their patients in rural areas effectively with the help of telemedicine services. PrognoCIS reaffirms the fact that telemedicine not only offers more and varied care but can lead to significant cost savings as well.

4. Flexibility: Doctors and nurses can work flexible hours; they can work from the comfort of their homes. Scheduling and canceling appointments through Telemedicine services are quite easy. These virtual visits cut down on travel, time off from work, creating greater flexibility for providers and patients alike.

5. Virtual Family Support: Whenever you visit a doctor you always take a family member along to who helps you provide information or explain to the doctor about your medical illness in case you are in pain. Telemedicine allows your family members to be a part of this virtual care. Even if they live away telemedicine can loop in your family member for the virtual visit.

6. Control Spread of Disease: The World is going through a global pandemic and providers have already put their lives on the line to serve the world.

During such times, telemedicine services save the day. Patients can consult with their physician/ healthcare provider without having to visit clinics or hospitals thus having fewer chances of being exposed to COVID-19 and likewise for the healthcare providers.

Key Takeaway: Telemedicine has the potential to provide exceptional care, easy access to care for an increasingly large number of patients, making it easy and convenient for the doctors too. It has taken virtual healthcare to another dimension.