The healthcare industry was in for significant reformation when the pandemic hit. Its limits were tested to the maximum. Doctors had to operate in conditions that previously would have made a diagnosis impossible. For instance, not being able to physically examine a patient was something that pre-covid would not have been satisfactory for both patient and physician. However, COVID-19 introduced barriers into the healthcare system that have taken us on a route to re-evaluation. emeds was quick to give in to this call for change. It was among the first few to move towards digitally integrated softwares and use this fruitful technology.
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What is eMedicine?
eMedicine is precisely what the name suggests. It focuses on digitising healthcare and moving the aspects that can be catered online to digital platforms. This means you can contact physicians, set up appointments and get a diagnosis through video calls etc. and opt for home delivery on your prescription.
eMedicine hasn’t just taken away transportation barriers; it’s done much more than that. It has helped governments add innovation to the healthcare sector in ways it wasn’t present before. Here are some of the ways telemedicine has changed the healthcare system.
Reduced transmission rates:
Illnesses like COVID-19 are on the rise because they spread pretty quickly. Places like hospitals and private clinics are usually hotspots of transmission for the disease. When you opt for a digital platform, the illness does not leave the boundaries of your house. You can get tested at home or have a doctor confirm your symptoms online and begin treatment at home. This is true for contagious and viral diseases other than Covid-19 as well. Thus, many illnesses aren’t being spread as massively, and in the future, it’ll be easier to keep them contained as more people opt for a digital diagnosis.
Accessible records:
With the traditional approach, shifting between physicians requires you to ask your previous physicians for all files, going through the dreadful process of piecing everything together and then heading over to a new physician to start over. However, with digital records, this becomes quite tidy. You won’t need to be anxious about losing a piece of paper right when you need it. All your data is stored online at all times. You could be communicating with a physician on the other side of the world without having your files in hand, and you won’t have to worry about going back to the doctor’s office for something you forgot. This accessibility will do wonders for doctors and patients alike.
Efficient communication:
Often doctors across different departments have to communicate on a case. It can be a hassle if you’re sending files back and forth through a nurse. Often doctors cannot get in touch with one another and thoroughly discuss what needs to be done. This adds more complications for everyone. When the process goes digital, physicians can easily catch up on a case by scrolling through the patient’s digital file. They can add notes and communicate on the go. It makes for efficient consultation and takes away the problems with physical communication.
Cost-efficient systems:
Digitisation cuts down a lot of costs. For patients, it cuts down on travel charges, consultation fees etc. Digital consultations are cheaper, often free. You won’t be spending as much on trips to the hospital. Online pharmacies also offer discounts frequently. For doctors, it means lower fuel bills and the opportunity to cater to multiple patients from one office. Instead of commuting to different clinics to see other patients, you can schedule them for online appointments and access them during breaks. Overall, you’re saving up on the money you didn’t realise you could save.
Less time-consuming methods:
The biggest advantage telemedicine has brought in is the saving of time. Digitally integrated systems can automatically record a patient’s symptoms or store them through voice commands. Either way, physicians don’t have to spend large amounts of time entering data into computers. Instead, they can use that time to examine more patients. This means smaller waiting periods for patients between appointments. Doctors and patients alike don’t necessarily have to worry about being late to an appointment now because they can show up to the appointment from the comfort of their own house or office. The eradicated need to commute to the hospital has added comfort for physicians, which they didn’t know was possible. As a result, physicians are less overworked and more productive.
Final word:
While many people may object to the digitisation of healthcare, one thing’s for sure; it’s here to stay. Previously, long hours and exhaustion beyond the limit were portrayed as the norm for physicians. However, the shift to telehealth has made it possible for physicians not to be tormented on the job, and we couldn’t be happier for it. Telehealth bridges the gap between patients and their doctors and allows new and innovative approaches to rise to the surface. As a result, diagnosis methods are seeing a turn for the better, and it’s safe to say the future of healthcare is looking up for the first time in a while.
