There is no doubt that COVID-19 will leave a lasting impact on our world. Many people say that we will never return to what normal used to be, but instead aClick here to learn more. new normalcy will emerge from the impact of this natural disaster. Nothing comes close to how badly our healthcare system was hit, and the pandemic will most certainly change the way healthcare will be delivered.
The current healthcare system was strained to its breaking point. So much so that many of us sheltered in place just to help slow the spread of the virus so that our healthcare system could try to catch up.
While those in the healthcare sector fought day and night to investigate treatments and vaccines, those in the technology sector helped reduce the strain on hospitals and clinics through remote consultations and treatments that made social distancing practical by reducing the need for clinical visits.
The topic of telehealth has been surging lately, though it is not necessarily new or unique to this crisis. So, what is telehealth anyway, and what are the benefits of telehealth that make it so important now?
Telehealth is a broad term that refers to the ability of physicians and patients to connect remotely through technology. It has been around for decades, and the connectedness of the internet to almost everything in our modern lives has led health care providers to push for more compliance to an organized telehealth system.
The current situation has forced healthcare authorities to make this service available to a wider patient base and insurance companies have stepped up to meet this demand by supporting telehealth treatment claims. The use of telehealth services has been particularly effective for the cases which need more frequent interaction with the physician but do not require an office visit always, such as Home Healthcare, Chronic Care Management, etc.
The benefits of telehealth technologies will revolutionize the healthcare system as we know it, and truly bring it into the 21st century. In the future, the days of waiting a week to be seen in person for a 10-minute appointment in a potentially contaminated doctor’s office will seem quite far from normal. There is also the potential to be seen when you need the care: regardless of the time of day, since the technology can connect you with any available doctor who is authorized to treat your condition.
Another advantage is that access to your medical records can be safely shared between doctors, if needed, to ensure you have the best care available when you need it the most.
Bridgera is here to help with it’s a new telehealth platform, myHealth. Imagine making a doctor’s appointment with the same simplicity as reserving a dinner table through OpenTable! Or even meeting with a doctor the same way you may communicate with loved ones over FaceTime. The prior benefits of telehealth technology were primarily centered on patient experience and convenience.
But with this most recent crisis, the most important benefit may be one that was rarely even considered before the outbreak, keeping higher risk patients safe at home when a diagnosis can just as effectively be given remotely. Bridgera’s myHealth platform can be customized and setup to deliver these capabilities for any hospital or clinic. Click here to learn more.
Stay home. Stay safe. Save lives.
