The impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare industry in 2020 has accelerated the shift toward telehealth beyond what was once thought to be overly ambitious projections. Now private players are embracing coverage for many telehealth services, and even Medicaid features forms of coverage for telehealth services. There are three major ways that telemedicine is transforming the healthcare system. In this article, we’ll look at how it’s transforming the doctor/patient relationship and preview some of the best telemedicine apps available for doctors to utilize in their practice in 2020.
Better Access For Your Patients
Doctors want to see their patients, but sometimes the time between booking an appointment and meeting is weeks. Physicians don’t like it any more than their patients. With growing shortages of specialists in rural areas, telemedicine minimizes waiting periods for an expert diagnosis. Patients can access physicians when they need them most, like on weekends, nights, and holidays. Electronic records can be forwarded from anywhere, allowing the doctor to act swiftly in urgent or potentially life-threatening situations.
Reduction in Healthcare Costs
On-staff specialists are costly. Transferring ill patients to larger facilities is expensive as well. It also creates an additional health risk. Telemedicine, on the other hand, allows patients to get the expert advice they need from the comfort of their home or local hospital. During a virtual consultation, patients can receive an expert diagnosis and immediate treatment plan.
Improved Health Outcomes
Traditional healthcare systems are plagued with long wait times, which can result in patients not getting the care they need in time. Telemedicine allows physicians to monitor patients remotely and discover potential issues early. The early intervention can catch a medical problem in the beginning stages, and reduce more costly or life-threatening issues later. It’s more affordable for the patients, and the doctors can serve more patients and generate more revenue for their practice.
Telemedicine Apps for 2020
If you’re a doctor that wants to offer telemedicine services, there are a number of easy to use and secure telemedicine apps to choose from.
- MD Live – Offers fast and convenient access to physicians for non-emergency issues.
- Lemonaid – A simple way to get an expert diagnosis and same-day delivery from the Lemonaid Pharmacy.
- Doctor on Demand – Doctor on Demand enables both insured and uninsured patients to consult with a licensed physician or psychiatrist.
