website search

Tag Archives: virus

17
Apr
Date April 17, 2020
Categories Telemedicine

Telemedicine Helps Seniors Stay Safe and Healthy at Home

To put an end to the Covid19 pandemic, government officials across the globe have called for citizens to avoid leaving home. However, many seniors need to see their doctors for ongoing medical needs. Thanks to advances in telemedicine, patients can meet virtually with healthcare providers without risking increased exposure to airborne infectious disease.

What Is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine, or telehealth, primarily deals with preventive care and treating acute medical conditions. It includes remote monitoring via phone, the Internet, email, and mobile apps. Much of this is home-based, but it also encompasses services rendered through medical facilities.

Advantages

  • Accessibility: Seniors can consult with a physician online at any time from any location rather than only being able to reach a doctor during office hours. This capability significantly increases access to healthcare for underserved populations such as rural patients.
  • Convenience: Remotely Speaking with a provider can save seniors time and energy typically spent on making trips to visit and wait on a doctor. Remote doctor visits relieve patients and their caregivers of the burden of transportation to and from an office.

Seniors can use online resources to address many common illnesses, including mental health conditions, from the comfort and safety of home. Remote doctor visits are especially helpful for patients and doctors during the pandemic, and the technology has great potential for increased capabilities beyond the current health crisis. Ask your healthcare provider if telemedicine is a good fit for you.

Author securemedical
03
Apr
Date April 3, 2020
Categories Telemedicine

What Is Telemedicine?

According to WHO, telemedicine is a term formed in the 1970s, which means “healing at a distance.” 

Following the recent Covid-19 pandemic, telemedicine has been at the forefront of the fight against the virus. This global virus has forced a needed change in how we look at healthcare systems. Governments have had to ramp up their telemedicine offerings in recent times to reduce the flow of traffic to emergency rooms.

In a bid to stop endangering healthcare giver’s lives, hospitals around the world are using telemedicine both within and without the hospital to reduce the incursion of patients needing care. Videos visits are helping to minimize exposure of hospital staff and the exposure of immune-compromised patients.

How to Use Telemedicine?

The best place to start is to contact your health care provider. Most hospitals have a telemedicine portal and app for all their patients. Register and follow all their prompts.

However, if you do not have a PCP, you can still get access to urgent care on the go. There are urgent care apps like Ourdoctor that can give you virtual access to a doctor when you need it.

Over the years, telemedicine has aided doctors to treat patients in three categories:

  • Patients with ongoing conditions like depression or diabetes
  • Patients with everyday care issues like birth control or hair loss
  • Patients with urgent care issues like cold and flu

Kyle Rao, CEO of Ourdoctor, says that there are people of all ages benefiting from using telemedicine it isn’t just young people.

How to Pay for Telemedicine?

When you sign up for telemedicine services like Ourdoctor. Insurance is not required. You can either sign up for a one time visit or a monthly subscription.

When Should You Go to the ER?

Issues of a more severe nature warrant for a visit to the ER. For example, regular shortness of breath, given existing circumstances, should be enough reason to visit your doctor.

Advance notice of your arrival at the urgent care center will benefit you in the end.

Author securemedical
27
Mar
Date March 27, 2020
Categories Telemedicine

Social Distancing? Need to See a Doctor? Telemedicine Could Be The Answer

In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, commonly known as the coronavirus outbreak, public health professionals and government authorities have advised people to exercise social distancing to slow down the spread of the virus and consequently save lives. But a lot of people are now wondering how they can access medical services when social distancing. The solution to this dilemma is telemedicine.


Telemedicine can be understood as the process of getting the services of a doctor remotely via the phone, text messages, or even video calls. According to Dr. Rahul Sharma, telemedicine offers an excellent opportunity for healthcare providers to do their part in helping the public minimize the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. For instance, with telemedicine, people with compromised immune systems, and those in quarantine can get the attention of a doctor without leaving their homes.


It is, therefore, not a surprise that several healthcare providers have reported a tremendous increase in the number of tele-visits in the last few weeks. For instance, compared to the previous six months, Multicare, the state of Washington’s leading community-based health system, has reported a 1300 percent increase in average daily tele-visits this month.


According to Dr. Finkelston, most visits have been about upper respiratory issues such as sinusitis, common cold, coughs, and fever. In other words, most patients who have been seeking medical attention through telemedicine in the recent past have symptoms similar to those that are associated with COVID-19.


But how reliable is telemedicine? Dr. Finkelston notes that teledoctors rely on a patient’s history to diagnose about 80 percent of the cases that they come across. Besides, teledoctors have the necessary experience and lots of medical tricks to understand their patient’s problems without necessarily having to see them in person. For instance, although it is not possible for them to remotely listen to a patient’s lungs, they can examine their respiratory patterns or even get them to take their heart rates. This can be quite helpful in ensuring that doctors get adequate patient information for them to offer the most appropriate medical advice.

Author securemedical