The Time is Right for Telemedicine

TECHNOLOGY has always been embraced by the medical world but can be slow to become mainstream practice. Years of research and regulatory approvals are needed, even before the ongoing education needed by professionals to implement new practices and procedures as everyday processes.

And telemedicine is no exception. While techological tools to allow doctors and patients to take advantage of the concept have been with us for some time, and increasing continually, telemedicine had not yet changed the medical world as its pioneers envisaged.

Until now. The extreme nature of the coronavirus pandemic has created great change around the globe, with medicine being very much on the front line. And telemedicine has come to the fore as part of the vital armory of tools being deployed to fight the virus.

With medical personnel both in exceptionally high demand for their services and at exceptionally high risk from the disease by the very nature of their work, anything to help manage the situation has been seized upon.

Using telemedicine as a gateway to access a primary care physician, for example, provides immediate advantages at this time of essential social distancing. From the patient’s point of view, they can stay at home for the entire consultation, which not only saves time and money with transportation, but keeps them out of a doctor’s waiting room. And in doing so, they keep themselves safer by not potentially exposing themselves to a room full of COVID-19 carriers.

If your need to see your doctor is nothing to do with the pandemic – after all, people are still living with their existing conditions – avoiding a hotspot of potential carriers is a big deal. Doctors, too, avoid having to put themsleves in harm’s way for routine check ins and follow ups – as do all the other people working in the practice – the receptionsist, nurses and technicians.

As the world hopefully begins its slow return to normal over the coming months, normal may well not be back to business as usual for the medical industry. While forced by circumstances and necessity, telemedicine has come into its own during this time – and it is unlikely to be put pack on the shelf.

Expect to see hospital systems embed virtual consultations into their business models and insurance companies to be building new codes into their processes.

No one is expecting the medical field to become completely automated – healthcare is still ultimately a very personal and in-person business – but the myriad of tools and technology are going to converge increasingly for the convenience of all stakeholders in the system.

Physicians will be able to call upon data and test results in real time, routine check-ins can be done by video conferencing, referrals and appointments set immediately.

Already, various devices and machines used at home – such as CPAPs – are feeding in vital data captured daily via the internet, and we are equipping ourselves with wearable technology monitoring all sorts of our key medical indicators which can provide potentially lifesaving clues to your doctor.

At Denver Holistic Medicine, we’ve been offering telemedicine services for the better part of a year and we are well poised to handle our clients remotely. We have an online pharmacy to deliver your medications and supplements and several virtual platforms prepared to accommodate clients needs. Contact us today to schedule your appointment with us from the comfort of your own home.