The coronavirus pandemic has changed the world’s outlook on telehealth, telemedicine, and virtual health care. According to the American Hospital Association, telehealth visits have increased by 38% of their pre-COVID levels.
While these levels are at an all-time high, there is still growth expected as virtual health visits take the place of in-person care. Research shows that more than half of US hospitals began using telemedicine to respond to quarantine and mandatory lockdown during the pandemic.
Healthcare providers say conditions that benefit from telehealth monitoring include chronic physical and mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and neurological disorders.
How Telehealth Visits Work
Telehealth visits are like in-person clinical visits, with one significant difference, instead of meeting in person. Doctors and patients connect via a virtual video chat room and talk to each other face-to-face. Patients link to a doctor using telehealth platforms such as Ourdoctor, during telehealth visits using an internet-connected device.
New Technology Investments in Telehealth
Hospitals and health care providers worldwide are looking at updating patient portals to make it easier for doctors and patients to connect. Telehealth visits are available on smartphones, desktops, laptops, and tablets.
Self-Service Health Care Options
Patients who can connect to their providers via video visit are less likely to miss their appointments due to time constraints or traffic issues. Using self-service health care options saves providers and patients time and money on travel time and potentially lost visits.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Significant investments are also made in remote patient monitoring software and technology. Some forward-thinking hospitals, doctor’s offices, and clinics can monitor patient vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels via connected sensors.
Healthcare App Development
Significant investments are happening in customized platforms such as Ourdoctor telehealth services, which are developing as doctors, hospitals, and other medical professionals realize telemedicine’s value.