Telehealth Services: Understanding the Basics

The healthcare sector is transforming every day owing to the collaboration with technological advancements. We all are aware of the benefits of the internet and technology. The Internet is making things easy and smooth for healthcare professionals also. In the past years, telehealth gained traction which is a new technological development for the healthcare sector. 

Telehealth uses digital information and communication to access and manage healthcare services remotely. Telehealth requires mobile, desktop, or laptop computers to run. Today, when people are busy and do not have time to visit healthcare institutions, they can easily consult physicians through telehealth services. This can be done online without being physically present. Also, telehealth services are offered by healthcare providers through mobile vans or remote clinics. 

During the time of COVID-19, telehealth gained traction due to remote access and is still in trend. Some of the benefits of telehealth include simplifying healthcare facilities in remote areas, keeping safety if one person is infected, first line of treatment in emergencies, and making healthcare professionals reach easier to people and others. 

The majority of the people utilized telehealth services during the pandemic when it was difficult to reach hospitals due to the lockdown. Today also people are continuing to use it as it offers convenience and comfort. 

Telehealth services offer numerous benefits to patients with enhanced care. The patient need not travel a long way for treatment and emergencies can also be handled. Now that the internet has become an important part of our daily lives, people are exploring more to get personalized services. Telehealth services include physician consultations, virtual sessions, text messaging, video conferencing, and training. The premium benefit of telehealth service is, it offers constant monitoring and support for chronic conditions. 

How does telehealth work?

Patients can obtain telehealth services easily, but it also depends on what their healthcare professionals are offering and allowing. 

• A patient portal is for sending and receiving emails from healthcare practitioners. Through this portal, they can easily get in touch with their physicians and can share documents and lab reports. 
• Virtual meetings are another easy option. Some healthcare providers make this option available for patients. Patients can make appointments over the call and can consult with physicians over a video call without visiting the clinic or facility. These meetings are specially for emergency cases and counseling sessions. 
• Internal meetings can also be done with the help of telehealth services. Physicians from other cities can discuss critical or emergency cases over a virtual meeting. Primary care doctors can discuss the treatment or procedures with specialist doctors. Primary physicians can easily share scans, tests, and reports with specialists for their suggestions and recommendations. 

Why should you implement telehealth services?

Telehealth covers a variety of applications. It can help in first-line treatment and remote consultations for patients who cannot visit the facility. However, it is not the only solution as not every procedure can be discussed online. If a patient is suffering from a disease that needs surgery, then they have to visit a hospital or clinic. Telehealth helps discuss the treatment, progress after surgery, any sudden health issue after surgical procedure, and monitoring lifestyle disease patterns. It even helps in understanding whether a person can be treated virtually or need to visit a doctor physically.