Welcome to another post about medicine and how to maintain good health care, last week we talked about the importance of check-ups; if you haven’t read it yet, we recommend you visit it first to stay updated on our blog.
As we know, medicine is constantly evolving from the development of new technologies and treatments to updating the way doctors offer their services, like telemedicine, which is the subject of today’s article.
Have you heard about this term? No? Do not worry, hereunder we are going to tell you all about it, so the next time you listen to it you understand what it is or, in case you need this type of service, you’ll know how to search for it.
What is telemedicine?
Have you ever called your physician to ask them questions about a prescription, medicine instructions or symptoms? Well this is the base of telemedicine.
Telemedicine is the term for remote or online medical consultations by using technology and telecommunication solutions such as video calls, instant messages and phone calls, as we’ve said.
It allows medical care providers in Mallorca or elsewhere to communicate with patients in real-time and exchange medical information and data without needing in-person consultations.
What is the goal of telemedicine?
The primary goal of telemedicine is to improve healthcare by providing remote services, as well as to make medicine treatments and consultations more convenient and efficient by allowing patients to receive care from the comfort of their homes or other locations.
As you can see, telemedicine can be used for different healthcare needs, including diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and counseling. It is particularly useful for patients in remote or underserved areas and those who have difficulty accessing traditional medical care services.
Origins of telemedicine
Despite our believes, telemedicine is not a recent concept since the foundation of this type of practices are originated during the 19th century, more specifically during the Civil War in United States, due to the lack of medicine, troops usually sent telegrams to the nearest physician to request medicine or assistance to the injuries.
Nowadays, this concept has evolved to the use of technologies to provide medical care services to people who aren’t near a clinic or hospital, or have difficulties accessing traditional healthcare, as we mentioned before.
Difference between telemedicine and telehealth
However, telemedicine is not a recent concept. Some people confuse telemedicine and telehealth, although it is true that they are used without distinction, there is a slight difference between these concepts.
As we mentioned before, telemedicine refers specifically to the use of telecommunications technology to provide clinical medical care services to patients at a different location than the healthcare provider. Telemedicine typically involves real-time video or audio conferencing between the patient and a doctor.
On the other hand, telehealth is a broader term that encompasses a wider range of remote healthcare services, including clinical and non-clinical services.
Telehealth can include telemedicine, but it also includes other remote services such as patient education, health information and monitoring, appointment scheduling, and administrative services. Telehealth also includes technologies such as mobile health apps or remote monitoring devices.
Benefits of telemedicine
As we can see, medicine is evolving to continue taking care of everyone, so to finish today’s article, we want to share with you some benefits of telemedicine.
1.- Increased Access to Healthcare
One of the primary benefits of telemedicine is that it provides increased access to healthcare services, especially for individuals who live in remote areas or have transportation issues.
Telemedicine can help overcome geographical and logistical barriers to care, making it easier for patients to access medical consultations and treatment.
2.- Convenience
It also allows patients to receive healthcare services from the comfort of their own homes or workplaces, reducing the need for travel and saving time, as well as offer more flexible scheduling options, including after-hours and weekend consultations, which can be especially beneficial for individuals with busy schedules or limited availability.
3.- Improved Quality of Care
Telemedicine can improve the quality of medical care by providing more frequent monitoring and follow-up care, as well as improving patient engagement and education.
4.- Cost Savings
In fourth place we have that telemedicine can also lead to cost savings for both patients and medical care providers.
First of all, patients can save money on travel costs, while healthcare providers can save on overhead costs associated with operating a traditional medical practice.
5.- Increased Efficiency
Finally, it can improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery by reducing wait times, minimizing administrative tasks, and improving the overall workflow of medical practices by allowing doctors to see more patients in less time while also improving patient satisfaction.
If you find this article useful, do not hesitate to share it on your social media and with your family and loved ones. Do not forget to stay pendant to our blog to learn more about medical care.
