A definitive Guide to TeleHealth – 2022 (updated)
What Exactly is TeleHealth?
TeleHealth has been around for some time now. Essentially it provides patients access to doctors and medical practitioners conveniently usually by phone, Skype, or Zoom. Since the COVID-19 pandemic TeleHealth is gaining popularity by necessity, and with certainty reduces the risk of contamination.
What Are the Benefits of TeleHealth?
TeleHealth is not a one size fits all solution for armchair health. It does, however, have many pluses, especially for those who simply need a prescription filled, and is also a tremendous benefit for those who live remotely, especially in countries like Australia.
Its primary advantages are that it takes away the need to travel unnecessarily, employment downtime, and cost. The inconvenience factor is removed by TeleHealth, and when coupled with online pharmacies, it certainly will only grow in popularity moving into the future.
Do You Still Need a Doctor?
Whilst we embrace TeleHealth patients should proceed with caution. Face-to-face medical consultations play an integral role in providing health care to patients. It is unlikely in this life that we will be able to experience remote pathology tests, temperature testing, and the like.
Medicos are concerned that with the combination of Dr. Google, TeleHealth, and online pharmacies some patients will opt to self-treat. This may result in dire misdiagnosis, overdose, and potentially be a fatal decision. Doctors will always remain the primary contact for providing medical treatment.
Do You Still Need a Pharmacy?
Online pharmacies offer the convenience of not only medications but a range of products delivered to your door. However, the face-to-face benefit of a pharmacist’s expertise should not be dismissed. Sadly, today major companies have taken place of the smaller independent chemists, especially in Australia. They are well worth supporting so they don’t disappear.
What Direction is Australia Heading?
Without a doubt, telehealth will ultimately perform a significant role in the community as we embrace technology and online shopping.
It will also free up doctor’s waiting rooms and in turn, hopefully, provide more patient comfort for those who need to visit a clinic. This is a major benefit for those who have experienced long delays in booking an appointment. Not to mention being exposed to waiting room potential or contamination.
Our Conclusion
Telemedicine is here to stay and administered well. It will provide patients with an excellent health outcome in most cases. Providing essential care to patients in the comfort of their own homes, whilst aiding the risk of the spread of COVID-19.