Impact of Telemedicine on Clinical practices

Telemedicine is an essential service in the realm of health care. Both the patients and doctors can take advantage of this service. With the rapid advancement in technology, telemedicine has seen an increase in its demand. Telemedicine enables the patients to contact their doctors to get treatment over the phone.

Nowadays, the world is in a state of a frenzy due to Covid-19. As the vaccine hasn't been discovered yet, and there is no treatment for this virus, self-isolation is the only way to stay safe. The usage of telemedicine has also skyrocketed. Patients who require treatment in the areas where a lockdown is imposed usually use telemedicine for their treatment.

Telemedicine is the only reliable source to get treatment from a doctor in hard times. Both patients and doctors are taking advantage of this service. According to a study, patients who used telemedicine had 38% fewer hospital admissions, 31% fewer hospital readmissions, and were 63% more likely to spend fewer days in the hospital.

Telemedicine is exceptionally versatile as well; if the doctor of a patient is not available, they can use various companies to get quick and efficient treatment. By using services such as Amwell and Teladoc, patients have access to doctors who can provide them with treatment for little cost. However, this method has its limitations. The doctors provided are unfamiliar with the history of the patients, and the treatment might be affected. Rushed appointments are also a common complaint.  This service is only limited to treating minor issues such as fever or sore throat. These doctors are also unable to write strong prescriptions; a patient will have to meet the doctor to address a serious issue.

Telemedicine also has its share of pros and cons. In case of an emergency, telemedicine may delay the treatment, as the doctors cannot provide emergency treatment or conduct tests digitally.

Clinics usually suffer the most because of telemedicine, as their primary source of income are the visiting patients. Telemedicine payouts are 50 percent or less compared to in-person visits.  Clinics have existing rental and billing contractual payments and staff salaries.

Telemedicine is entirely dependent on technology. If the equipment or telemedicine technology is not up to par, it can be a barrier to the treatment. Not all insurances cover the cost of telemedicine, which is a significant disadvantage for the clinics.

Telemedicine is a growing market, and with more studies and better methods, it will only get better. There is an increase in demand over the last few decades. It is already worth $17.8 Billion and expected to grow to $18.4 Billion annually from 2015-2020. So, it is safe to assume that this industry will only grow in the next few years.