If you feel unwell or have questions about your health, you usually make an appointment with your primary care physician. In after-hours situations, you may even go to an urgent care clinic. However, as communication technology advances, so do your care options. Through telemedicine services, you can seek medical advice anytime, anywhere without leaving your home.
What is telemedicine?
In a simple definition, telemedicine allows patients to use technology to communicate with a healthcare provider instead of physically visiting a doctor’s office or hospital.
With telemedicine, you can discuss symptoms, medical problems and more in real time with a healthcare provider via video, Online portals and email. With telemedicine, you can receive a diagnosis, learn about your treatment options and get a prescription. If needed, healthcare providers can even monitor medical device readings remotely to keep an eye on your situation.
There are three common types of telemedicine:
– Interactive medicine: also referred to as “live telemedicine.” Here, doctors and patients communicate in real time.
– Remote patient monitoring: This allows caregivers to monitor blood pressure, blood glucose levels, etc. It allows tracking of patients using mobile medical devices to collect data such as blood pressure and blood sugar.
– Storage and transmission: Providers can share a patient’s health information with other health care professionals or specialists.
Health care providers have been offering remote services since the 1950s. Telemedicine first began with landline telephones. As technology evolved, telemedicine began to offer services in a variety of ways. This includes Online portals managed by your personal physician, video Software that allows remote viewing, and applications managed by companies that provide telehealth services.
How do telemedicine services work?
Telemedicine is not appropriate for emergencies such as heart attacks or strokes, cuts, lacerations or broken bones that require X-rays, splints or casts. Anything that requires urgent, applied care should be treated in person. However, telemedicine is very useful for simple problems and follow-up calls.
For example, if you suspect a cut may be infected, you can schedule a virtual consultation with your doctor to discuss your symptoms. If you are on vacation and think you have a sore throat, you can contact your doctor as a first step. If you need birth control medication, you can talk about your needs and get a prescription the same day.
It is useful for a variety of other health problems such as psychotherapy and teledermatology. For these problems, it offers moles, rashes and other consultations. Colds and flu, insect bites, sore throats, diarrhea and pink eye are other common problems discussed with telemedicine.