Telehealth Technology refers to the process of providing healthcare for patients via a remote technology platform. The use of telehealth technology has increased in recent years and is now used by various healthcare professions. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals have reported an increase of between 50 to 175 times the number of patients accessing telehealth technology. This increase has correlated with the development of new telehealth platforms to provide remote healthcare options for patients and practitioners. The benefits of telemedicine are widespread and include reduced wait times, increased accessibility, and comfort and convenience for both the client and practitioner.
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Telehealth is used by various professions, including mental health workers, occupational therapists, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, general practitioners, and chiropractors. Telehealth technology allows patients to receive the healthcare they require from the comfort of their home, while healthcare practitioners ensure they meet the same professional standards that are accepted in person. Common features of telehealth include appointment scheduling, clinical documentation and notes, electronic health records, and medical billing. These features are always applied using HIPAA standards to ensure the patient’s safety and confidentiality.
Using telemedicine in healthcare often has benefits for both patients and practitioners. Some of these key advantages include:
Decreased Risk of Infection: Particularly important since the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telemedicine reduces the risk of infectious illnesses. By conducting appointments online, practitioners can prioritize their health and deliver telemedicine safely from a distance.
There are significant benefits of telemedicine for patients, as the use of online healthcare platforms can eliminate barriers that prevent people from seeking the professional help and support they need:
The advantages of telehealth are extensive and serve to benefit both patient and practitioner equally. Telehealth eliminates barriers that prevent them from seeking healthcare for the patient, including financial pressures and accessibility. In turn, practitioners benefit through improving efficiency, removing unnecessary overhead costs, and working from the comfort of a home environment. All telehealth platforms secure patient information safely, abiding by HIPAA standards. This ensures that telehealth guarantees safe, private, and effective healthcare solutions for anyone, despite the lack of in-person appointments.
As mentioned previously, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in the number of patients and practitioners accessing telehealth services. Telehealth allows individuals who are displaying symptoms relevant to COVID-19 to access professional support without risking others. The reduced risk of infection also allows practitioners to look after their health and wellbeing. Further, COVID-19 has led to significant life changes that heavily impact mental health. Telehealth eliminates the barriers that have been put in place during the pandemic by allowing individuals to access different mental health care professionals and obtain the support they need.
The various benefits of telehealth that have been addressed in this article include increased accessibility and efficiency, reduced costs, and general convenience and comfort for both the patient and practitioner. As discussed, these benefits have been especially notable given the current COVID-19 climate. Nevertheless, there are certain disadvantages and barriers associated with telehealth:
Telehealth technology services have increased significantly in recent years, and this article discusses the various advantages of using telehealth for both patients and practitioners. Features provided by telehealth services generally include appointment scheduling and reminders, clinical documentation, and medical billing.
These features can be observed in the telehealth service provided by Carepatron, which additionally utilizes secure data protection and HIPAA-compliant standards.
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