More people have become reliant on telehealth technologies to access medical care. Telehealth is a medium for delivering health care, health education, and health information services through remote technologies. It allows healthcare providers to deliver the same level of service and care that patients expect using virtual appointments conducted over the phone or via a video visit.
While the pandemic has been a catalyst for telehealth expansion, this platform has the potential to transform healthcare delivery entirely.
Telehealth has become increasingly popular since the COVID-19 pandemic started, and one of the significant benefits of telehealth is the potential to minimize the spread of infectious diseases. Telemedicine and telehealth have accorded patients and health practitioners alike the convenience and safety of healthcare from the comfort of their homes, without the fear of risking exposure to germs present in a face-to-face appointment.
According to a healthcare technologist and consultant, "Telehealth technologies are a key tool in mitigating the risk of exposure to infectious diseases. Telehealth has filled the gap between the patients and health providers, especially in a pandemic such as what we are currently facing." While the pandemic has been a catalyst for telehealth expansion, this platform can potentially transform healthcare delivery entirely.
Telehealth can assist in delivering an extensive range of health care services, including primary care, consultations with specialists, mental health therapy, and preventative health services. Patients do not have to worry about taking time off work or arranging transportation to attend an appointment physically. Instead, they can receive the treatment they need in the comfort of their own homes.
Even though telehealth has provided a solution to the gap between healthcare and patients, it is imperative to note that reimbursement may pose a considerable challenge. Clinicians accept various insurance types, and each insurer has its reimbursement policy. The good news is several insurers have extended coverage for telehealth consultations during the pandemic.
In conclusion, Telehealth has become the most popular and effective method of accessing care while minimizing the transmission of infectious diseases. It is a platform that provides health practitioners and patients the convenience and safety of receiving and giving health care services while assisting in primary care, preventative health services, and mental health therapy. The future of healthcare delivery has been transformed by telehealth, and it is time patients avail themselves with the numerous benefits telehealth provides.
