Let’s Talk About Telemedicine
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are more hesitant than ever to leave their homes—for good reason. Social distancing protocol requires that you stay at least 6 feet away from other people who are not from your household. When you’re out and about, it can be quite hard to maintain such a large physical distance. Moreover, the healthcare industry is also looking to prevent patient surges and protect their staff. Frontline healthcare professionals work day and night to serve the community despite the challenges and risks, so their safety should always be a consideration as well. For these reasons and more, the landscape of healthcare delivery has shifted towards telemedicine. And what exactly is telemedicine? It is the practice of medicine where care is delivered at a distance using technology. As a result, patients do not need to rely on in-person services and can instead receive care from the comfort of their homes. This method of delivering care also reduces staff exposure to ill patients and prevents patient surges at hospitals.
Telehealth technologies, or telecommunication services used to provide care at a distance, have been around for a long time. But patients have not felt the need to use them beyond simple phone calls with the physician. However, due to the pandemic, policy changes have reduced barriers to accessing such services and even promoted the use of telehealth because these services can increase social distancing and improve public health outcomes. They can also protect healthcare professionals and patients by reducing infectious exposures, specifically to the virus. Remote access to quality care also serves to accommodate those who may be medically vulnerable or do not have access to providers.
But that’s not all. There are many more, albeit less often considered, benefits of providing telemedicine services. Physicians can provide regular coaching sessions for patients who have chronic health conditions. Since patients no longer have to go in-person to receive advice on weight management or nutrition counseling, the process becomes much easier. And then there’s post-hospital syndrome. Post-hospital syndrome is when patients who have been discharged experience a 1-2 month period of vulnerability. The syndrome is often a result of physical and emotional instability caused by hospitalization and the ongoing effects of the health condition. During such times, what is required is high levels of support and guidance from the physician, family, and friends.
Luckily, telehealth services have proven to be useful in supporting post-hospitalization home care. They allow for ongoing monitoring of the patients and regular follow-ups with the patient, reducing the risk of injury. And in the case that another medical crisis occurs, telemedicine delivers to patients and caregivers advance care planning. What is advance care planning? The process involves making decisions about the healthcare you would want to receive if you face a medical crisis. Such decisions are made based on discussions with family and personal preferences. With telehealth services, the process of documenting your preferences and having long discussions with a caregiver and physician is made simple.
Last but not least, you have remote patient monitoring with wearables. When you’re at home, with or without company, you can be reluctant to monitor your clinical signs, such as blood pressure or blood glucose. But for patients with chronic medical conditions, such routine checkups are critical. Wearables, like a watch on your wrist, are capable of collecting such data and sending real-time updates to your physician or family members. So even if you forget, there is no harm done.
Telemedicine is the future of health care delivery. Frontline healthcare professionals and patients are currently relying on telehealth services for their own safety and the safety of their loved ones, and will continue to do so. The landscape of medicine has shifted, in my opinion, for the better and I am excited to see what the future will bring.
References:
Social Distancing
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html
What’s the Difference Between Telemedicine and Telehealth?
https://www.aafp.org/media-center/kits/telemedicine-and-telehealth.html
Using Telehealth Services
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/telehealth.html
Post-Hospital Syndrome: Tips to Keep Yourself or a Loved One Healthy After Hospitalization
Advance Care Planning
https://www.nhpco.org/patients-and-caregivers/advance-care-planning/
