We are witnessing a period in history like no other. The COVID-19 pandemic controls the news cycle, and stay-at-home orders are changing the way we live—at least temporarily. Now more than ever, meetings are becoming phone calls or e-mails, and household needs are accessible with the click of your mouse or the tap of your finger.
The health care industry is taking note and responding in kind, and with this enters an accessible tool we call “telemedicine.”
What is telemedicine?
Telemedicine, also known as telehealth, denotes the intersection of the health industry and technology. Mayo Clinic describes it as “the use of digital information and communication technologies, such as computers and mobile devices, to access health care services remotely and manage your health care.”
Access to telehealth extends patients’ ability to seek and monitor their wellness. Depending on your insurance provider, telemedicine can take on different looks.
Here are three types of telehealth offerings:
Real-time telemedicine: Real-time telemedicine is the act of virtually visiting your doctor via video chat or teleconferencing. Real-time telemedicine can take the place of a standard, in-person visit and is often used in place of urgent care, primary care, follow-up visits, or the treatment and management of chronic illness.
Store-and-forward: Technologies denoted as “store-and-forward” send information such as x-rays, MRIs, pre-recorded videos from exams, patient data, and more to secured email servers, usually to specialists or practitioners.
Medical professionals use this information to make decisions on treatment for their patients. This type of telehealth is as beneficial for specialists as it is for their patients as it adds convenience to their work, allowing them to review cases from anywhere at any time.
Remote patient monitoring: This type of telemedicine allows practitioners to monitor their patients remotely. Usually, patients are at home in recovery when this type of telemedicine is used. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) frees up hospital beds for people who need more urgent care and monitoring. Additionally, it allows for patients who still require monitoring to return to the comfort of their home with the safety net of continued care.
The benefits of telemedicine
Telemedicine has paved the way for the health care system to extend its reach beyond hospital walls and medical institutions. Included in its list of benefits is the reduction of transportation costs and time, the minimization of time taken off work to see a doctor, and, for patients who are also parents, less need for childcare.
The increased popularity of telemedicine is empowering both doctors and patients to get and give the health care they need in the manner they need it. What’s more, in this moment of global illness, patients can consult their doctor without risking infecting other patients within proximity or people they may come across on their way to visiting the doctor. Even better, doctors can assist patients while conserving necessary materials like masks and gloves.
How do I know if I’m eligible for telemedicine?
The best way to find out whether or not you’re eligible for telemedicine capabilities is to contact your health care provider. For some, telehealth extends beyond illness such as colds and flu. In fact, some insurance companies and mental health providers have extended the possibilities of patients’ access to mental health services like teletherapy.
Contact your insurance provider to get a better understanding of your individual (and familial) plan to find out how you can use telemedicine. If you’re uninsured, talk to health professionals about options for medical care for your plan. You might also consider researching sliding-scale health care as an option.
However you decide to seek medical help and attention, know that you are not alone. Whether you’re an essential worker showing up day after day or heeding the advice of medical professionals by staying home, telemedicine is a great option to get the care you need while ensuring the health and safety of those around you.
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