As the medical world is evolving constantly, healthcare providers often look at technology to help their patients.
One of the major innovations in modern healthcare is telemedicine.
Though it’s not a new concept, it’s now significantly more effective with modern technology. It especially made waves during the pandemic as it helped immunocompromised patients access healthcare remotely.
However, like any technology, virtual healthcare has its advantages and disadvantages. In this blog post, we’ll analyze the pros and cons of virtual healthcare.
Pro: It’s More Convenient and Accessible
One of the biggest advantages of telemedicine is that it provides easy access to quality health care. Most patients prefer simple online access to healthcare services in comparison to in-person interactions with healthcare providers. It was first developed in the United States to deal with healthcare shortages, especially in small towns.
Virtual healthcare provides simple and effective healthcare solutions without wasting time or money. Homebound, immunocompromised, and older patients can easily access healthcare from the comfort of their homes. It also makes it easy for busier people.
Con: Digital Divide
While telemedicine changed the game for healthcare in the past few years, it’s also not without its own issues. One of the biggest hurdles is reaching as many people as possible. This means that there are people who have older technology that might hinder the process. These patients may face some barriers in getting the technology needed for a remote consultation session with their primary physician.
Pro: Lower Costs for Consultation and Visits
The United States spent 3.8 trillion dollars on healthcare in 2018. However, much of that money was spent on unnecessary visits to the hospital. Telemedicine can help curtail these costs. It’s difficult for many people who don’t have access to healthcare insurance to visit specialists. Sometimes, it’s even difficult to get primary healthcare. It’s going to get worse as the older generation, called baby boomers, get ready to take advantage of Medicare benefits.
However, telemedicine can help prevent that by allowing people who don’t have insurance to get access to quality primary and specialist healthcare.
Con: Technological Barriers
Patients who aren’t tech-savvy might be less willing to utilize telemedicine services. Moreover, they might not know how to book a consultation.
Pro: Easy Access to Information
Telemedicine allows medical professionals to easily exchange ideas with patients via video conferencing. This might help them get clues about their patient’s health and give better information.
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