Telehealth services utilization has become more prevalent in the United States of America following the surge of COVID-19 cases. This shift in sentiment was borne out of the necessity to bridge the care gap that stringent stay-at-home measures had created in the healthcare sector. Additionally, a more favorable view of telehealth services, increased supply from providers, and regulatory changes spurred the emergence of the virtual healthcare model.
Virtual care brings about increased levels of convenience and improves access to varied types of health offerings. This includes access to several states that had been previously left out of the loop. Furthermore, incorporating remote monitoring into care models has boosted health outcomes. That being said, innovations such as enhanced data flow between the major players in the space (consumers, investors, and providers) play a significant role in unlocking the full potential of telehealth services. Such innovations call for a substantial amount of investment capital into the space.
Policymakers also question the ability of the system to cut costs significantly while maintaining the quality of care that traditional hospitals provide. Despite virtual care being a relatively new concept, consumers have shown a lot of faith in its quality. Providers have also been receptive to adjusting their traditional model to incorporate the technology.
In conclusion, Telehealth has pulled its weight in stabilizing the health industry during these unprecedented times. More robust policies should be put in place to advocate for better virtual care services. This is especially important with the emergence of variant strains of the disease. Additionally, telehealth services need to be tailored to meet various patient and health provider needs. Telemedicine companies such as Ourdoctor gives patients access to 24/7 care on multiple conditions that are non-life-threatening. If you’d like to learn more, visit Ourdoctor.com.