“In an age where the average consumer manages nearly all aspects of life online, it’s a no-brainer that healthcare should be just as convenient, accessible, and safe as online banking.“
-Jonathan Linkous, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association
Time and distance have lost the effect they once had on many aspects of life. Consumers have life’s essentials in the palm of their hands.
Approximately 15 years ago, USAA introduced remote mobile check deposits. Now, one would think twice before committing to a bank that did not offer remote banking services. Telemedicine services are a similar innovation in the healthcare industry.
From maintenance to emergency situations, seeking care is often an obstacle. The constraints of time and physical location present a challenge for many.
Telemedicine services address the needs of patients seeking care. These services can also support practitioners that have concerns for their patients’ health.
If you’re thinking about adding telehealth or telemedicine services to your business, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading for an overview of both, as well as a list of benefits!
Telehealth vs Telemedicine
The terms telehealth and telemedicine are often used interchangeably. Yet, they refer to different processes.
What Is Telehealth?
Telehealth is a broader term that includes non-clinical care. Non-clinical care means providing health education and monitoring blood pressure and vital signs.
What Is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine involves remote clinical care. Telemedicine services include elements like means of communication and medical equipment.
5 Reasons Telemedicine Services Are Indispensable in the Digital Age
In doubt about whether providing these services to your patients and patrons is worth it? Consider 5 reasons your organization can’t continue to thrive without telemedicine services.
1. Access to Healthcare Services
We live in an age of convenience. People seek services that have the most benefits. Services that are accessible always win.
Transportation can be a barrier to seeking healthcare services. But, with telemedicine, it doesn’t have to be.
Telemedicine services also result in decreased expenses for both patients and providers. Stay ahead by offering easy-to-access services. Feature increased availability for faster identification of issues and treatment.
2. Patient Satisfaction and Retention
Accessibility has a large role in keeping your patients happy.
Remote visits are convenient and often make communication with providers easier. Patients appreciate medical care that is relationship-centered and sustainable. So, the easier it is to talk to their doctor, the more likely your patient is to stick around.
Patients also appreciate being able to access their medical records easily.
To retain patients, healthcare facilities should follow this model of contemporary care. Patients are more likely to return when they experience the ease of getting care.
3. Decreased Visits to the ER
Emergency room visits have a negative impact on several levels:
- Exorbitant bills that often go unpaid
- Resources are often spread thin
- Visitors may contract new illnesses or spread their infection
- Waiting room experiences are unpleasant
In a world with fewer ER visits, personnel and other resources are saved for true emergencies. Offering telemedicine services reduces the number of ER visits your patients will have to make, which can save you time and energy. It will also improve your existing ER services by reducing patient congestion.
4. Minimal Disruption to Work
Should an organization care about how telemedicine affects their patient’s jobs? Yes, because a happy patient is a repeat patient! In addition, it’s common for a hospital or clinic’s employees to seek care at the center where they work.
With less time and distance to get care, the need for patients and staff to request time off work decreases. This means that employees are less likely to call out sick.
Due to COVID-19, we have seen the effects of global disruption in different industries. Worldwide economies suffer as a result of fewer hands on deck to produce goods and services. Caring about the effects of operation on a global scale is a moral and social obligation.
Offering telemedicine services allows organizations to fulfill this responsibility.
5. Reduce Practitioner Fatigue
Finally, healthcare practitioners need to be protected. We value the contribution clinical staff provides in various clinical settings. They over-extend themselves when needed.
For a hospital or clinic, a top-notch staff is essential. Doctors that are experiencing burnout are likely going to look for employment elsewhere.
Telehealth can improve the working experience of your staff, which can reduce burnout rates. This means you’re more likely to retain your top staff.
Do all you can to retain your medical staff. Provide them with options. In this way, you can ease the physical and mental burdens of their day-to-day work lives.
Telemedicine Services and Technology
Telemedicine options available in this digital age have increased significantly. Specialist Direct is the premier telehealth solutions provider. We offer specialized clinicians and technology solutions such as telepathology, teleradiology, and telecardiology.
Telepathology
Our telepathology services include the interpretation of digital pathology slides. We can provide results in less than one hour. This is possible with our portable slide scanner.
Remote pathology services advance medical interests by expediting research and providing diagnoses.
Teleradiology
We have Board-Certified radiologists available all across the United States. This means that there is always someone available to interpret MRIs, ultrasounds, x-rays, and more, despite the time zone you are in.
Telecardiology
Specialist Direct also has a network of Board-Certified cardiologists in the United States. Our physicians are available for interpreting EKGs, echocardiograms, and more.
Consider Telemedicine Services Today
Now that you know why telemedicine services are essential, let’s get started!
Book a free consultation to find out how telemedicine can benefit your organization.