Although telehealth has been available for more than half a century now, it didn’t truly begin making headlines in the medical sector until about 20 years ago. Even then, it was slow to gain ground. Over the last few years, though, it has become an integral component of the healthcare industry, and it’s only going to grow moving forward.
Telemedicine is improving healthcare for everyone. It’s making doctor visits easier and more convenient for patients and helping medical facilities save time and money. That’s only the tip of the iceberg. Telehealth is completely revolutionizing healthcare in the digital era in many ways.
Improving Patient Engagement Rates
For one, telehealth is improving patient engagement rates. For in-person doctor visits, cancellation and no-show rates hovered around 60 percent on last report. After all, for many, it’s much easier to cancel or simply not show up than it is to rearrange their schedules, arrange for time off of work, find babysitters, get ready for appointments, and drive to the doctor’s office. That number drops to about 10 percent among virtual healthcare providers. That means patients who have access to virtual care are more likely to keep their appointments, and it’s making a world of difference in their health.
Greater Access to Specialized Care
Telehealth is also giving patients more access to specialized care. With virtual visits, they can see specialists in other cities or even other countries if need be without all the extra time, effort, and expense of traveling. This is particularly important for patients who live in areas where access to certain types of specialists is limited or altogether nonexistent. That, along with easier access to their primary care physicians, is reducing patient hospitalization and readmission rates while also helping them better deal with serious and chronic conditions.
Lower Healthcare Costs
Many patients who use telemedicine when possible see lower healthcare costs as well. Though costs vary among providers and can be affected by other factors, reports show that telehealth visits are generally less expensive than in-person appointments. Beyond the cost of the appointments themselves, patients see significant savings in other areas. Those include the costs of missed time from work and travel. That’s yet another motivation for keeping their appointments rather than cancelling them. Medical facilities can also save money by offering telehealth services, which may allow them to invest more in the care and services they make available to their patients.
Remote Monitoring and Artificial Intelligence
Perhaps a couple of the most exciting and innovative ways telehealth has changed the medical field is through remote monitoring and the use of artificial intelligence. Thanks to wearables and other types of remote technology, doctors can now keep watch over their patients from anywhere without having to repetitively schedule appointments or have them admitted to the hospital. Artificial intelligence is being used to provide faster, more accurate diagnoses and triage patients remotely. It can also analyze patient data and use that to recommend lifestyle changes and treatment modifications among other benefits.
Changing the World of Healthcare
Countless changes have come to the healthcare industry over time. It’s continually growing more advanced with new medications, treatments, and technologies entering the mix. Telemedicine may not be an entirely new development, but it has certainly grown more practical and effective in recent years. It’s revolutionizing the world of healthcare for providers and patients alike, and it’s expected to continue to grow and evolve in the future.