Benefits of Telemedicine

In many instances, telemedicine offers advantages over a traditional face-to-face health care visit. With the growing popularity and widespread acceptance of telemedicine, any improvements that need to be made are likely to occur, making telemedicine a viable and advantageous form of health care.

Increased health care access

One of the major advantages of telemedicine involves access to health care. Telemedicine was originally developed in the United States as a way to address health care shortages, especially in rural areas. Patients living in rural areas can consult with medical professionals working almost anywhere. These patients might have to wait weeks to see a primary care physician or even months to see a specialist in-person, and telemedicine breaks down these barriers. Along those lines, telemedicine also allows patients to visit with a specialist who might not practice nearby.

Convenience

Telemedicine eliminates the need for the patient to secure transportation, which is a huge benefit for high-risk populations such as seniors and those with chronic medical conditions.

Also, patients no longer have to sit in a waiting room for an extended period of time. Long wait times are frustrating for patients, especially for those who are dealing with an illness or urgent health matter. According to Vitals Index, 30 per cent of patients have walked out of an appointment due to a long wait time (2). The same study found that one in five patients changed doctors due to long wait times.

Ability To Exchange Ideas

Medical professionals can share information about medical cases with other doctors all across the world. It also gives family members scattered across the world a chance to participate in the care of a loved one by setting up a group telemedicine call.

Additional patient engagement

Telemedicine allows patients to connect directly to their doctor more frequently and conveniently. That way patients can forge a closer relationship with their doctor, making them more comfortable in asking questions and more in control of their care.

Lower costs for doctor visits

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in 2019, the United States spent more than $3.8 trillion on health care, which equates to $11,582 per person (3). Some of that money involves unnecessary and avoidable spending. Telemedicine can prevent unnecessary emergency room visits as well as other expenses that are generated during an average doctor’s office visit. This can include lab testing or electrocardiograms that might not be needed.

Similarly, in that study conducted by McKinsey & Company, its claims-based analysis suggested that approximately 20 per cent of all emergency room visits could be avoided by offering virtual urgent care assistance. It also found that 24 per cent of health care office visits and outpatient volume could be delivered remotely. (1) Combined, this adds up to $250 billion in health care costs spent in 2020 that could be shifted virtually.

Access to additional information

When medical professionals converse with patients via video, they can get a gauge as to how the patient’s home life is, which might provide them with important clues about their health. Plus, if patients can’t remember the name of the medication they’re taking, they can simply grab the bottle from their medicine cabinet and inform the provider.

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