Everything you need to know about Telemedicine
Everything you need to know about Telemedicine?
Telemedicine is a relatively new concept, and it is evolving at breakneck speed in the internet age. This blog is for individuals who wish to learn everything there is to know about this intriguing and active field.?
Do you know the origin of Telemedicine??
Since its inception, the field of telemedicine has evolved dramatically. A few hospitals began trying with telemedicine to reach patients in faraway regions only approximately fifty years ago. Telemedicine has evolved into a complex integrated service utilized in hospitals, homes, private physician offices, and other healthcare institutions as a result of significant technological advancements over the last few decades.?
The concept of telemedicine started with the birth of telecommunications technology, the means of sending information over a distance in the form of electromagnetic signals. Early forms of telecommunications technology included the telegraph, radio, and telephone. In the late 19th century, the radio and telephone were just starting to emerge as viable communication technologies.??
However, it wasn't until the early twentieth century that the general public became aware of these technologies and realized that they could be used in medicine. Dr. Hugo Gernsback's strange creation, the "teledactyl," was featured on the cover of Science and Invention magazine in 1925. The envisioned instrument would inspect a patient from afar using spindly robot fingers and radio technology, and show the doctor a video stream of the patient.???
While this idea never progressed beyond the concept stage, it foreshadowed the modern notion of telemedicine: a remote video consultation between a doctor and a patient.??
The Space Technology Applied to Rural Papago Advanced Health Care (STARPAHC), a collaboration between NASA and the Indian Health Services, was one of the most successful government-funded telemedicine projects.???
Projects like STARPAHC fueled medical engineering research and aided in the advancement of telemedicine. Continuing advancements in telemedicine and broader research at universities, medical centers, and research organizations marked the next few decades.??
But do you know how Telemedicine has evolved and what role it currently plays in the market??
Continue reading if you haven't already.?
Telemedicine Today & its Evolution???
The field of telemedicine is changing quicker than it has ever been before. Basic telemedicine tools are becoming more affordable and accessible as technology progresses at an exponential rate. Not only do we now have the technology for live video telemedicine, but a large portion of the Indian population has used online video chat apps (such as Skype or Facetime) and has access to a computer or mobile device to use them.?
Telemedicine was designed as a tool to treat patients who lived in distant areas, far away from local health facilities, or in areas where medical personnel were in low supply. While telemedicine is still employed to address these issues today, it is increasingly being viewed as a tool for providing convenient medical treatment across India. The connected patient of today wants to spend less time in the doctor's waiting room and receive immediate care for minor but urgent conditions.??
The demand for more convenient care, along with the unavailability of many overworked medical professionals (particularly primary care practitioners), has fueled the growth of telemedicine businesses. Many provide patients with access to medical treatment 24 hours a day, seven days a week via an on-call doctor hired by the company. Others provide extra clinical staff and specialists to hospitals and major health institutions for the outsourcing of specific cases (common model among teleradiology companies). Others offer a telemedicine platform that allows doctors to conduct virtual visits with their own patients just like MedleyMed does.??
In a competitive healthcare industry where staying independent and maintaining a healthy bottom line is challenging, telemedicine is increasingly becoming a means to provide medical practices an edge.??
The rising mobile health profession is also having an impact on the expansion of telemedicine today. Patients are beginning to use technology to monitor and track their health, thanks to a growing number of consumer-friendly mobile health apps and innovative mobile medical equipment. Patients can gather medical information for a doctor's diagnosis without having to go to the doctor's office with simple home-use medical equipment that can take vitals and identify ear infections, monitor glucose levels, or measure blood pressure.??
How great is that??
Again, as more people become more proactive in using technology to manage their health, they will be more receptive to alternative care options, such as telemedicine!??
Different Services that can be provided by Telemedicine
Telemedicine is applicable to a wide range of medical services. Here's a rundown of some of the most frequent ailments that a primary care physician can address via telemedicine:?
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Telemedicine services vary greatly depending on the specialty. A surgeon might use telemedicine to check up with patients after an operation to make sure their incision isn't infected. To give birth control counseling, a gynecologist could employ a live telemedicine system. Patients can have live video chats with endocrinologists to discuss current lab findings and ask questions.??
Telemedicine statistics of India. Is it safe? How many patients have telemedicine in India???
Furthermore, the abrupt outbreak and spread of COVID-19 across the country, as well as the implementation of a stringent statewide lockdown to contain the virus, has created fresh prospects for the telemedicine sector in India to flourish. Patients and their families avoided attending hospitals and physician's clinics for fear of virus spread and infection, preferring instead to consult remotely via telemedicine services.?
In addition, hospitals and doctors concentrated their efforts on treating and assisting COVID-19 patients, and outpatient services were suspended. As a result, outpatient patients opted to use telemedicine. This, in turn, is predicted to have a beneficial impact on market growth in the coming years.??
This can be attributed to the country's improved healthcare IT infrastructure, as well as the country's expanding digitization. Furthermore, the rising prevalence of chronic and infectious diseases in the country, combined with a dearth of healthcare workers and physicians, is predicted to drive market expansion through FY2027.??
In addition, hospitals and doctors concentrated their efforts on treating and assisting COVID-19 patients, and outpatient services were suspended. As a result, outpatient patients opted to use telemedicine. This, in turn, is predicted to have a beneficial impact on market growth in the coming years.??
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) instructed insurance companies in October 2020 to allow claim settlement for telemedicine consultations when standard consultation with a medical practitioner is authorized in the policy contract's terms and conditions.??
As a result, market growth is likely to accelerate in the next years. Furthermore, encouraging government policies and programs, such as the Government of India's eSanjeevani project, have garnered a lot of traction among doctors, telemedicine companies, and patients.??
This might be linked to the cloud segment's advantages, such as remote data access and lower total operational costs. The market can be divided into three types: tele-hospitals, mHealth, and tele-homes. Through FY2027, the tele-hospitals segment is predicted to dominate the market.??
This is due to the growing adoption and use of telemedicine services in hospital settings for doctors to consult with diverse specialists. This not only saved the hospital money, but it also saved the patient money. While the tele-homes segment is expected to rise in the coming years as a result of increased digitalization and internet penetration across the country.??
In addition, over the next few years, a growing health-conscious population, together with supportive government policies and efforts, is likely to generate the attractive potential for segmental expansion.?
So what are you waiting for??
Have the Telemedicine at your doorstep with MedleyMed?
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MedleyMed is the leading digital solution platform for healthcare and pharmaceutical enterprises in India. Patients can now manage their health on their own thanks to our patient-driven telemedicine app. Booking appointments, online doctor consultations, ordering medicines, scheduling testing, and a variety of other services are available to them and their family members. All of this is included within a single app.?
And there's more..?
You can now get your prescribed medication delivered right to your door. Yes, you read that correctly; MedleyMed offers you the option of having your medications delivered to your home without you having to worry about transportation costs or investing your time.?
So, what do you have to lose??
Now is the time to take advantage of MedleyMed's Telemedicine services and book your appointment for a free demo.?