Telecommunication is no longer just a medium to talk to your loved ones, relatives, and friends, but today healthcare facilities are being provided with its use. Telehealth is a growing segment of the healthcare industry.
Healthcare professionals are increasingly providing remote healthcare services with the help of text messages, audio-video conferencing, and other tools. Moreover, It is important to get detailed information about this growing industry.
In this article, we will discuss what telehealth is, what are its benefits, and what are its challenges to consider in healthcare.
Telehealth Platform:
The communication of doctors and patients from any place, at any time through the use of telecommunication tools is called telehealth. A telehealth platform is designed to provide healthcare services digitally.
Benefits and Challenges of Telehealth Platforms in the Healthcare Industry
Every coin has two sides, if something has benefits then it will also have some disadvantages. Undoubtedly, the telehealth platform has contributed a lot in bringing the healthcare industry to the next level, but it has also brought many challenges to the healthcare industry. In the next part of this article we will discuss the benefits and challenges of telehealth.
Benefits of Telehealth platforms:
A telehealth platform has the following benefits for healthcare professionals and patients.
Reduction of office visits:
With the help of telehealth software, patients and doctors can connect through online video-audio conferencing. There is no need to go to the doctor’s office for diseases like cold, sore throat, minor fever, etc.
The patient can talk to the doctor and get treatment in the comfort of his home. This ends the unnecessary doctor visit.
Expand access to healthcare:
The biggest benefit of the telehealth platform is that it has made access to healthcare facilities very easy. In many areas where healthcare facilities are rare, telehealth has brought healthcare facilities to such remote areas as well. This has made access to healthcare services easier.
Reduction in provides overhead:
Virtually providing healthcare facilities means the lower overhead of the healthcare provider. If fewer people visit the office, it will reduce the need for staff and other resources. A doctor can attend more appointments. This will generate revenue and reduce overhead expenses.
Reduction in patient cost:
Through the use of telehealth platforms, patients save a lot of money. Patients do not need to take time off work, and driving and expenses are saved. It also helps patients to save their valuable time.
Reduction in patient no-shows:
Business revenue is greatly affected by missed appointments. With the help of telehealth services, patients connect with the doctor promptly, thereby benefiting both the doctor and the patient.
An improvement in the quality of care:
Many people neglect to take care of their health because they have a single option to consult a doctor, that is office visit. In such a case many people continue to delay consulting a doctor, Unless they face a major problem, which would harm their health and affect healthcare services also.
But with the help of the telehealth platform, there has been a huge benefit in healthcare quality, patients meet doctors when they require through audio-video conferencing and take proper care of their health.
Potential challenges :
After discussing some of the key benefits, we will now discuss some of the challenges.
Providers are relying on patient adoption to invest in the technology:
Healthcare providers are often hesitant to invest in a telehealth platform because their patients do not use a telehealth platform. So the biggest challenge, in the beginning, is whether patients will use the platform or not.
Internet networks are difficult in many countries except some developed countries, people are not aware of some areas. Healthcare providers, therefore, face a difficult decision before purchasing or designing a telehealth platform.
Continuity of care may be lacking:
Your primary care physician has complete information about your medical history, and medication course that is suitable for you.
If your PCP has a telehealth facility then continuity of care is not a concern but if you connect to another doctor just for fast healthcare services may this will reduce your care quality and continuity.
Security measures:
Not every telehealth platform takes care of security measures. This is why many telehealth platforms misuse patients’ personal and medical data. Therefore, every telehealth platform needs to be HIPAA compliant.
Conclusion:
In this article, we have discussed some of the benefits and challenges of telehealth platforms. Despite its challenges, the weightage of its benefits is high.
So we can say that the telehealth platform is beneficial for the growth of the overall healthcare industry, and the challenges coming its way can be overcome by following the rules and regulations properly.