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Telemedicine, also known as telehealth, has rapidly redefined the way Americans receive healthcare.
The use of telehealth increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s continued to rise in popularity. Rather than relying solely on in-person appointments, patients are now connecting with their doctors via phone or video consultations to discuss their health concerns.
Long waits for scans or test results are being reduced through the introduction of remote monitoring tools and wearable devices that track health indicators, and for rural Americans in particular, telehealth eliminates lengthy travel to access physicians, making quality care more convenient and accessible than ever.
The best part? Beyond these obvious benefits, there are actually many other key ways telemedicine is transforming the American healthcare industry.
Relieving pressure from the physician shortage
The United States is experiencing a doctor shortage, with a predicted shortfall of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036. As healthcare demand grows, the waiting period to see a doctor is becoming longer, with those who do not have a regular physician being forced to wait for even greater periods.
Although it does not solve the problem, telehealth is certainly helping relieve some of the pressure. With 76% of hospitals now able to connect patients via telehealth and the ability to provide 24/7 treatment for non-emergency ailments, patients can be seen faster and in greater numbers, which is helping mitigate the overall burden on the system.
Addressing healthcare costs
The US healthcare system spends nearly twice as much per capita on healthcare compared to other equivalent, wealthy nations, largely due to its higher healthcare costs associated with administration inefficiencies, a lack of competition, and overall utilization of healthcare services.
Patients in America also often visit expensive facilities such as the emergency room unnecessarily, costing as much as $1,800 more than what one might pay in primary care settings for manageable conditions, including bronchitis, dizziness, a sore throat, or the flu.
Telemedicine can help shift the decision from racing to the emergency department to a more considered approach by calling a virtual doctor for quick, convenient advice and treatment, reducing the overall cost of the service, as well as the burden on a hospital ER.
If the situation warrants a visit to the emergency room, a telehealth doctor can still advise this. As telemedicine continues to expand, healthcare leaders need specialized skills to manage and optimize virtual care solutions, so courses like the TWU nurse practitioner program will become essential to prepare healthcare professionals for leadership roles in this rapidly changing environment.
Better chronic condition management
For those suffering from chronic conditions, constant visits to the physician can easily add up to quite an expense over time. In many cases, much of the care required for chronic condition management can now be managed remotely, including writing simple, recurring prescriptions or conducting follow-up appointments to discuss labs and other test results. Not only is this more affordable for the patient, but it also results in better health outcomes as they are far less likely to cancel on a telehealth appointment than on an expensive face-to-face consultation that is a two-hour drive away.
Chronic condition management via telemedicine is another example of the way telehealth can help reduce the burden on other healthcare services by managing non-emergency patients more quickly and efficiently.
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Telemedicine, or telehealth, has changed the face of US healthcare and has actively contributed to improving health outcomes for both patients and medical professionals.
The multitude of benefits that telehealth and telemedicine services provide include alleviating the pressures associated with the current shortage of U.S. healthcare professionals, as well as significantly reducing costs incurred by patients for access to medical care. Telemedicine services are also instrumental in facilitating improved management of chronic medical conditions, with patients benefiting from having their health conditions managed remotely, while still receiving a high standard of care.
For this reason, it’s unsurprising that the adoption of telehealth services has been met with positive uptake across the U.S, with approximately 39% of American adults now choosing to access medical attention via virtual, remote telehealth appointments. This number is only set to grow, with an increasing number of Americans understanding the convenience, cost-saving, and practical benefits of receiving medical care via telehealth.
Telemedicine is now an important part of the modern healthcare system and will be for the foreseeable future. From relieving pressure on America’s various healthcare settings, helping to address rising costs, and supporting some of the most vulnerable people in the community, telemedicine has cemented its place as a long-term health solution, improving the lives of patients and healthcare professionals alike.
