How to Extend The Benefits of Telehealth During Pandemic?

Telehealth (telemedicine or online doctor consultations) is becoming a hope for millions of patients out there. This virtual care is helping the doctors reach out to their patients without potentially exposing anyone directly to the coronavirus. Even the patients are acknowledging its presence and avoiding visiting their regular medical clinic Santa Ana, Ca.  

Strangely, the technology that was like a lonely teenager for the last few years blossomed into an “essential service” that everyone desires. Surprisingly, the key barriers, such as awareness and acceptance that were earlier blocking its path, seem to have vanished.  In short, the current public health crisis is driving telehealth as one of the most useful tools. The results are so effective that even the government changed the access requirements and reimbursement restrictions concerning telehealth services. 

But what led to such a sudden change? Let’s dive in and find out. 

Telehealth Offers Geographic “Load Balancing”

The fear of the unknown and the growing coronavirus cases is creating an enormous burden on healthcare providers. Soon the demand for doctors might outrun the availability of healthcare providers. But one thing’s for sure. The coronavirus won’t impact the supply of health providers equally in all the areas of the country. 

For what’s worth, telehealth will cater to the needs of the heavily impacted areas by taking the supply of healthcare providers from one part of the country to the other. To put it another way. It will help with load balancing. For example, distant patients can now easily reach the doctors of the medical clinic in Santa Ana, Ca, via virtual visits. 

Some healthcare systems are contracting national telehealth companies such as Amwell, MDLIVE, or Teladoc Health to reduce the gap in demand and supply. And a few others are relying on online doctors as a part of their virtual care team. Just imagine, all these providers are geographically dispersed. Therefore, telehealth enables all doctors across the borders to come together. And serve patients’ needs, especially in the overwhelmed hotspot areas. Although some healthcare providers might feel that such services could cause licensing, credentialing, and liability issues, President Donald Trump thinks otherwise. 

According to his directive, the US Department of Health and Human Services can change regulations that restrict clinicians to practice across state lines. To continue such efforts, states like North Carolina, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and others have already allowed providers to practice across state lines. However, they are expected to adhere to telehealth guidelines since not every state is willing to do the same. 

Also, Read: Coronavirus And Healthcare- Presenting Challenges & Solutions

Telehealth Extends The Force by Using Quarantined Physicians 

You must understand no one is immune to coronavirus. And that includes our healthcare providers as well. But, here is something very interesting. Telehealth services can help the country maximize their working providers by allowing quarantined providers to evaluate patients through virtual visits. Reports suggest that many doctors had to quit the task force because of the viral infection. 

However, using telehealth services, such physicians can cover tele-intake or direct-to-patient care quite easily. That’s how this technology is freeing physicians from their in-person responsibilities. They can even cater to the needs of distant patients remotely. In short, every physician available will be directed towards patient care without a miss. 

Telehealth Offers Routine Care Evaluations For High-risk Non-Infected Patients 

There is more to telehealth than just screening the potential COVID-19 patients. It helps provide routine care to the elderly and high-risk patients. While dealing with positive cases, somehow, we tend to forget that the COVID-19 discriminates. By and large, the effect of this viral strain is worse on the elderly. So, one can use telehealth as a strategy to protect such high-risk patients from contracting the coronavirus.

And while doing so, the technology can easily offer routine care. For instance, telehealth would help deliver care to patients with conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and cardiovascular disorders. In simple words, it will help the doctors to carry out routine care by protecting the patients from waiting areas or physician rooms that might contain viral particles on the surface or other areas. 

Telehealth Offers Efficiency Care to Streamline The Influx of Patients 

Since everyone is promoting telehealth services or online doctor consultations, the demand is increasing. A lot of surveys suggest that there has been an approximately 50 percent rise in the use of telehealth services. Think about it this way. As the demand for such technology is increasing, the online waiting queue will start becoming longer as well. Does this sound familiar? It seems like things would instead reach a similar consensus as it had with in-person visits to a medical clinic in Santa Ana, Ca, or any other place. 

So, what’s the solution?

It’s ridiculously easier than we think. For instance, telehealth features can include up-front screening questionnaires, chatbots, and other AI tools to slow down the patient inflow and enhance patient-care efficiency effectively. Not only that, but telehealth will also lower the bouncing calls and the increasing online waiting queues. All in all, it will offload the enormous influx at the front end. And will allow physicians to deliver care to emergency patients. 

Also, Read: Why Should You Switch to Telehealth Amidst COVID-19 Crisis?

The Result

The technology that was earlier frowned upon can now quickly enter the lives of millions. Well, that’s the only good thing that came along with the growing global pandemic. With time, the consumer’s expectations and perceptions are also changing. And people are willing to adapt to such a change on their own. 

Final Thoughts 

Before the global pandemic, face-to-face consultations were supposedly the best way to connect to a patient. However, the unprecedented attack surprised everyone. It helped everyone to grasp the fact that healthcare was possible using remote services. Again, the primary focus during the public health crisis was to streamline the patient load across the country. So, telehealth gradually became the first choice. 

Experts believe that it is indeed helpful in managing the crisis while providing exclusive health care services to millions of patients. Hence, they can easily manage their symptoms without exposing themselves to the deadly virus. 

On the whole, telehealth will help in the following ways:

• It will keep patients safe from possible exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
• It will improve patients’ access to healthcare.
• It will cut down healthcare costs.
• It will contribute to a greener planet by restricting the number of patients visiting doctors for face-to-face consultations. 

And while doing this, telehealth will also allow healthcare systems to address providers’ shortages. 

Hence, it all comes down to this. 

Telehealth or telemedicine is a technology that offers efficient patient care by adhering to the social distancing guidelines. So, no one will have to think twice before scheduling their appointment with the best doctors at the medical clinic in Santa Ana, Ca.