The demand for telehealth by phone and video has soared recently due to health technology advancement, use, and network accessibility. However, obstacles such as cost, inability to access remote areas, the limited number of addiction care providers, the emergence of a pandemic limiting mobility, etc., can bar Opioid addicted patients’ from receiving adequate treatment. Fortunately, the use of telehealth by phone and video has surpassed all odds, and its use will allow the Opioid addicted patients to receive good healthcare services effectively. But, wondering how telehealth can help those suffering from Opioid addiction?
Telehealth has led to an increase in virtual visits with addiction care providers
Telehealth by phone and video allows many patients suffering from Opioid addiction to continue with their medication to support their recovery. Currently, everyone has phone access which people with opioid disorder who have no access to a computer or high-speed internet or often lack stable housing can use to make audio visits. Additionally, through telehealth, the addiction care provider can easily and remotely monitor the opioid patients’ progress without actual visits.
Telehealth enables flexibility and convenience for addiction care providers
Telehealth through phone and video visits provides flexibility in addiction care services by making it easier to keep opioid patients engaged in care over time. Opioid-addicted people can risk overdosing. Thus, policy strategies that make it easy to stick to addiction care can significantly impact telehealth, and telehealth is a viable option. Additionally, addiction care providers can serve more patients using flexible online appointments and audio visits, especially for patients who can’t travel to treatment facilities. Some pandemics, such as the Covid-19 outbreak, hinder mobility and physical contact. Thus, telehealth will break this barrier, allowing opioid patients to continue receiving the best care from addiction care providers.
Telehealth enables addiction care providers to explore ways to outreach opioid patients
Over the past years, addiction care facilities have focused on opioid patients seeking treatment and are already in the door. However, substance addiction, a very isolating disease, is a condition that makes it hard for people to seek treatment. Therefore, using telehealth by phone and video will enable addiction care providers to explore more ways of outreaching opioid patients to offer them an effective treatment for better recovery.
The Bottom Line
Having read the above article, you have realized that telehealth by phone and video will play a crucial part in treating opioid addiction. The proper use of telehealth by telephone and video can lead to an increase in opioid addiction virtual care visits, allows opioid care providers to become more flexible, and enhance opioid care providers to explore more ways to outreach opioid patients so that they can offer treatment effectively. Therefore, implementing the guidance to increase the funding for mobile apps and assistive telehealth services will enhance telehealth usage by phone and video in providing effective opioid care.