| The COVID-19 pandemic forced medical providers to change the way they offer care to patients. The government issued social distancing health guidelines to limit contact to ensure the virus’s spread was curtailed. Now, healthcare providers prefer virtual appointments to in-office visitations. We are currently in the coronavirus tidal wave, and more patients are going back to one-on-one visitations to the doctor’s office. Still, experts say that virtual meetings with doctors are here to stay. Various health surveillance reports have indicated high patient satisfaction with online doctor appointments. For instance, patients have realized that virtualization of medical appointments allows them to get healthcare services from the comfort of their homes, saving them both time and money. Additionally, it also alleviates workplace absenteeism. Following the increasing popularity of virtual care, there have been changes in Medicare Health Plans to cater to doctors’ and patients’ needs during the pandemic. For instance, health policy providers must pay doctors who leverage telemedicine the same amount as physical appointments. Furthermore, cost-sharing among patients should not be more than in-person visits. How Telemedicine Works Established telemedicine companies such as Ourdoctor, use their virtual platforms to conduct online appointments. Others use publicly available software apps that include Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype. Both the doctor and patient must have access to a laptop, PC, or a smart device, although a high-resolution smartphone would suffice. Advantages and Disadvantages of Telemedicine Telemedicine is most effective when you need urgent care services, such as flu-like symptoms or minor injuries. Moreover, the virtualization of doctor visits makes it easy for healthcare providers to offer post-surgical care. That comes as good news to patients with limited mobility, eliminating the need to go through the hassle of heading to the physician’s office. It is worth noting that virtual medical appointments are not applicable in every situation. Medical cases regarding acute respiratory complications or drug overdose require patients to go to the emergency room as quickly as possible. Additionally, virtual visits also limit the doctor when physical examinations are required. On the other hand, face-to-face appointments are appropriate for pediatric care because babies and children require vaccinations and immunizations. The doctor can better monitor their growth and development in a physical office setting. Overall, telemedicine is keeping patients safe by not having them be exposed to others in a doctor’s office. Depending on the severity of your issue, you can use telemedicine to determine whether your condition requires in-office care or can be treated through telemedicine. |
| To encourage Americans to stay at home during a pandemic, many health insurance providers began covering the copayment for Telehealth appointments. Through virtual meetings, insurance companies hoped this financial incentive would reduce volume and stress on healthcare workers. This decision proved useful. Over the summer, Telehealth appointments skyrocketed more than 13%. However, insurance companies intend to reinstate copay charges for Telehealth appointments. Starting October 1, UnitedHealthCare and Anthem began collecting copays for Telehealth appointments. Copayments will be the same as an in-person appointment. Doctors are aware of their patient’s hesitance to Telehealth. Many, such as urologist Dr. Chad Ellimoottil, wear their white coats to all Telehealth appointments. While there are physical limitations to Telehealth appointments, Doctors wear their coats to assure their patients of professional treatment. They want patients to know that a Telehealth appointment is as necessary as an in-person appointment. With copays, patients will be even more skeptical of Telehealth appointments. The lack of copays provided a critical financial incentive for patients in need of routine checkups. According to Harvard Medical School, Professor Ateev Mehrotra, in-person doctor’s visits reduced 60% since the beginning of the pandemic. Many doctors are hopeful that patients who need in-patient care will feel more confident about making in-person doctor’s appointments without a financial incentive. Many patients who desperately needed care feared the doctor’s office during the pandemic. Furthermore, many patients made appointments for minor injuries of ailments without a copay where they would otherwise not consult a doctor. This put a financial incentive on insurance companies to require copays again. However, health care professionals worry that copays create another financial burden for patients. With a recession, doctors do not want patients to choose between physical health and further financial distress. In the event that the patient cannot afford the copay that their insurance companies are charging, telemedicine companies such as Ourdoctor do not require a high copay. Instead, patients only have to pay a one-time visit fee. This is a more affordable method of receiving non- urgent care from a physician that does not require insurance. |
Top Reasons Why Telemedicine Isn’t Going Anywhere
Over the past months, COVID-19 has impacted telehealth and the entire medical field. Telehealth is not a new concept. Telehealth has been around since 1879, and in 1925, diagnosing patients by telephone had become more popular within the realm of medicine. Yet, there are multiple questions gaining traction recently. A couple of them are, “will telehealth evolve into a more modern system?” The second question being Is telehealth here to stay indefinitely?”
Telehealth Improvements
The fact that technology improves over time is indubitable. When looking at the innovations that have taken place recently, we can see that one of the determinantes that influence telemedicine is technology. This impact (and as the general field of technology, biotechnology, and science) will help telemedicine evolve and stay for the long term into the distant future. For doctors and nurse practitioners to be the most effective, telemedicine is primary healthcare now. IT is a fundamental tool for healthcare during this pandemic and has changed the way people commonly see healthcare.
Access to Healthcare
Access to healthcare is a fundamental concept that should make health equity streamlined and work for all people. To be specific, people that live in an urban setting should have access to healthcare without being unnecessarily exposed to COVID-19 while waiting to see a medical practitioner.
For individuals and families that live in rural settings. Additionally, telemedicine will make healthcare available for anyone living in a rural area. A doctor’s visit can is simply, a consultation away via Smartphone or computer when telemedicine becomes primary healthcare.
Can’t afford Insurance
In the event that an individual cannot afford health insurance or Medicare, Telemedicine is an affordable option since patients can purchase individual visits using Ourdoctor telemedicine services. There are also family plan options for those who have family members that need to see a doctor. Telemedicine is a great option for all, as its affordability and convenience is the future of medicine.
Artificial Intelligence in healthcare is no longer restricted to research labs alone. It has also improved many telemedicine aspects revolving around broadband technology and electronic data to assist and coordinate remote healthcare services. AI takes over the whole chain of clinical practice and patient-focused care by providing models of care and sustenance. AI can be benefical in the following ways.
Analyzing medical records and other data
One of the healthcare’s primary goals is to collect and analyze data, including medical records and history. AI conducts data management and digital automation to provide more reliable access.
Automation of manual, repetitive tasks
The cardiology and radiology departments rely on AI to analyze tests, conduct x-rays, CT scans and carry out other tasks. In the future, both departments will only focus on handling emergency and complicated cases where manual tasks need supervision.
Electronic consultation
Healthcare providers can diagnose, treat, and monitor their patient’s progress without making physical visits. The initiative relies on machine learning to provide support for patients with chronic conditions. Various apps containing necessary health information and medical advice will help parents living with sick children and other people looking out for their loved ones’ well-being.
Medicine management
Through a smartphone’s webcam, physicians can verify whether they are taking their medications and assist them in monitoring their progress. People with complicated medical conditions, defiant patients that go against their doctor’s advice, and clinicians participating in trials are the primary beneficiaries of the AI autonomous service.
AI-led Telemedicine can revolutionize Telehealth applications.
patients scheduling in person visits at a clinic is a chore of the past to find help to their problems. By creating automation, AI can transform healthcare and help handle some of the applications set out above. By looking at the multitude of tasks that AI can complete through the realm of telemedicine it is without a doubt that AI is not only innovative in medicine, but will soon become a requirement as our society is evolving.