Question

In your own words what is telemedicine? Discuss different uses for telemedicine? Have you ever used telemedicine and if you did what was it and was it successful? If you have never used telemedicine, would you – why or why not?(300+words please)

Answer 1

Telemedicine

· Telemedicine are the services, where we can receive medical advice anytime, anywhere, without leaving the comfort of our home.

· Through tele communications, health care expert shares the medical knowledge with person at distant locations.

· It overcomes the geographical barriers to health care.

· This is beneficial for patients in medically underserved communities or in rural geographical locations where medical facilities are limited.

· It transfers medical data for: Consultation, Diagnosis, Support for Clinical Case, Medical Education

Different uses of Telemedicine

For patients

Lower costs: Telemedicine helps to spend less time in the hospital this provides cost savings. Also, less commuting time and saves secondary expenses, such as transportation.

Improved access to care: Telemedicine provides better to access care for people with disabilities. It has improved access for populations. Example, older adults, people who are geographically isolated.

Preventive care: Telemedicine helps people to access preventive care thus improves their long-term health especially for people with financial or geographic barriers to quality care.

Convenience: Telemedicine allows to access care in their comfort and privacy. Thus, decreases the stress of dependence care like asking partner or children or guardian to accompany to hospital or health care facility.

Decreased risk of infection: Telemedicine reduces the chances of exposure to infection specially for people with underlying conditions or with immune compromised systems.

For health care workers

Reduced expenses: Telemedicine services may incur fewer overhead costs.

Added revenue stream: Telemedicine supplements income to health care workers because it allows to provide care to many patients in a given time.

Reduced exposure to infections: Providing care to patients remotely, exposure to infections are less or nil. In COVID infection scenario, this has been great for health care providers.

Patient satisfaction: When patient does not have to travel to the hospital or wait for care, they will be happier with their provider.

I have never used telemedicine but will sure to use it.

As we are facing a global pandemic - COVID-19, which has been a barrier to treatment in most of hospitals. It has become difficult to get the heath care facility at hospitals. Also, the transport and other services are affected, and it is concentrating for emergency medical services.

Telemedicine comes to rescue in this scenario, by providing health care facility at the comfort of home by reducing the exposure to infection also reduce the time and cost. Below motivates to use telemedicine.

§ As per the above uses of telemedicine, it is sure to provide;

§ Better access to health care

§ Can be accessed from any geographical boundaries

§ Decreases health care costs

§ Decreased exposure to risk of infection

§ Increased continuity of care