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The advance of technologies in the field of information exchange is enabling the rapid development of telemedicine, which, according to experts, is changing and will continue to change the traditional way of medical care. Not long ago, if a patient needed medical care, they had to go to a doctor to get the necessary healthcare services. Now, thanks to telemedicine, a patient can connect via the Internet with a doctor and get the care they need to stay healthy.
What is telemedicine?
Telemedicine is a medical practice that uses technology to provide medical care and connect the patient with the doctor regardless of distance. In other words, healthcare professionals use technology to exchange valuable medical information for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment, or disease prevention despite location barriers. According to the World Health Organization, telemedicine is “the delivery of healthcare services, where distance is a critical factor, by all healthcare professionals using information and communications technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of healthcare providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities”.
Telemedicine services are a major advance for public health, especially for many people who live in rural areas with limited specialized physicians or health centers available. Thanks to telemedicine, more people can receive the care and treatment they need, favoring the standardization of healthcare.
About Telemedicine
Historically, the origin of telemedicine is intrinsically linked to telecommunications. Telemedicine, as a concept, is not new but has been developing for more than 100 years. The World Health Organization considers that the history of telemedicine began in the second half of the 19th century, when, first with the development of the telegraph and then the telephone, telemedicine was first developed. Due to its speed and efficiency, the telegraph was adopted for telemedicine in military situations. Eventually, when the telephone was invented and became widely available to the general public, it was possible for patients and doctors to consult and exchange information directly over the phone, making it possible to treat some common diseases remotely.
Later in 1924, the idea of telemedicine as we know it today emerged. In April of that same year, a futuristic illustration appeared in a popular magazine of the time called Radio News, showing a machine with a television and microphone that allowed a patient to communicate with the doctor. The 1960s witnessed another important contribution to the development of telemedicine, when NASA designed a technology to monitor the health of astronauts while they were in space, allowing them to communicate with their doctors.
But it wasn’t until the late 1990s and the rise of the internet that telemedicine underwent a transformation that allowed for the transmission of medical images, real-time audio, and video collaboration consultations, as well as vital sign monitoring. Nowadays, thanks to the development of the internet and new technologies, a specialist and his patient can see each other through a screen with an internet connection in real-time.
Advantages of Telemedicine
Telemedicine has become increasingly popular in the last decade, and it is not surprising, given all its undeniable advantages. Some of them are listed below:
- Saves patients from unnecessary trips to the health center and reduces the risk of contracting a disease.
- Reduces costs and risks associated with mobilization, not only of patients but also of physicians and specialists.
- Can significantly reduce the waiting time for a medical appointment.
- Facilitates access for people with disabilities, or older adults who have difficulty in getting to health centers.
- Lowers hospitalization days and allows remote monitoring of patients.
- Allows greater access to specialists who may be located far from their city of residence.
Definitive Guide to Telemedicine
As the demand for quality healthcare increases but the availability of physicians and healthcare providers is shrinking, hospitals are looking for alternative ways to provide traditional healthcare to serve the community and meet industry and client demands. As a result, telemedicine is proving to be the technology solution to socioeconomic challenges faced by healthcare systems globally.
Telemedicine Info for Healthcare Providers
In addition to greatly benefiting those receiving medical care, telemedicine also fosters communication and collaborative work among healthcare professionals, regardless of their geographic location. Telemedicine can streamline and improve the operation of hospitals and clinics through its many advantages. Physicians can use telemedicine to create support networks among their colleagues, enabling them to share their knowledge and provide better healthcare services.
The communication and collaboration process between doctors and patients is also exponentially more productive when using the technology available at their fingertips, such as health apps developed for appointment management, visit tracking, reminder apps doctor-on-demand apps for consultation, medical record apps, in which the patient can send or receive forms and sign them remotely, among others, as they increase the probability of follow-up, resulting in a decrease in the number of missed appointments and an increase in patient satisfaction.
Telemedicine Info for Patients
Nowadays, a doctor and a patient can see each other through a screen with an Internet connection, making use of chat rooms and other spaces where we can carry out specific consultations, and telemedicine equipment is specially developed for this type of consultation.
To connect with a healthcare professional via a remote real-time video conference consultation and enjoy all the benefits of telemedicine, you will need an Internet connection and a suitable device with audio and video capabilities, such as a computer, mini PC, tablet, or cell phone. We recommend clearing out your browser to avoid interfering with the speed of the Internet connection and prevent it from being disconnected. Finally, having a phone at hand is highly recommended, in case the videoconference communication is interrupted.
When is telemedicine useful?
Telemedicine is intended to improve ambulatory care services and remote patient follow-ups, focusing on both the quality and accessibility of medical care for all patients, as well as disease prevention. Telemedicine is highly advantageous in treating chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, and other problems that require frequent monitoring and follow-up care, making it convenient for those who need to visit their physicians regularly. Telemedicine also allows patients to be present remotely for visits where physical contact is not necessary, such as reading lab test results, reviewing X-rays, or for routine checkups.
Get More Information
To connect doctors with their patients, Azulle encourages the use of telemedicine for routine healthcare visits. Our solutions offer everyday tools for healthcare providers, allowing them to communicate with their patients from anywhere in the world simply by using a mini PC with an Internet connection.
Interested in our video conferencing solutions? We offer reliable, and cost-effective hardware designed to help you communicate effectively with your doctor if you’re a patient or with your patients if you are a healthcare professional.
Visit our website at www.azulle.com to explore our solutions and choose the one that best suits your needs!
