2020 was one of the most challenging years we’ve faced. Despite this, we’ve pushed through, adapted, and succeeded. One of the many ways we’ve done this is by making the most out of remote technology.
Remote technology and its perks have been around for a while now. However, we’ve only recently come to appreciate its full potential. It’s provided us with convenience and kept us sane and safe.
Remote diagnosis, in particular, has been beneficial. Health restrictions and guidelines meant many people experienced limited access to medical care. The solution became telemedicine and remote diagnostics.
This tech, partnered with expertise helped those needing urgent care. People with cardiovascular problems, for example, benefited a lot from Telecardiology. Find out more about it by reading below.
Matters of the Heart
In the US, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women of most races and ethnic groups. Unfortunately, it’s also linked to a multitude of other severe medical conditions. Diagnosing and treating heart conditions often involves tons of tests, with an early detection key.
Early diagnosis increases your chances of recovery and treatment. Delaying or putting it off can be fatal. Unfortunately, many people don’t have access to a cardiac specialist.
Those who do often need long check-up trips, making follow-ups difficult. Many heart conditions require an onslaught of maintenance medicine, which needs frequent readjustment. Getting a call from your specialist can be frustrating if they need you to come in for something minor.
The fact is that 1 in 4 deaths in the US every year are due to heart disease. It’s not something that you should take for granted. Being able to work with a specialist shouldn’t be out of reach or complicated.
Luckily, technology has come a long way, with remote diagnosis an easy solution.
What Is Telecardiology?
Telecardiology, in essence, is the use of remote telephone lines to read, study, and treat the heart. It allows specialists to diagnose patients without needing to be there. As long as the equipment to read and transmit your heart data is available, the rest becomes easy.
For telecardiology to be possible, you need a specialized device. This device needs to be capable of two tasks. Firstly it needs to scan your heart using a 12-lead ECG (Electrocardiogram).
An ECG is standard for diagnosing any heart condition. Most specialists or general practitioners will order such a step, even without telecardiology. What makes telecardiology equipment so special is how it records and transmits the ECG data.
From the hospital or primary care facility, your ECG data is first converted into a sound signal. From there, it’s then sent over a telephone line to the specialist. The specialist can then convert the signal back into legible data and diagnose you.
This offers a comprehensive image of your heart, reconstructed via telecardiology. From here it becomes a cakewalk for doctors to write up a summary of what they see and what they suggest. This is then sent back to you for your local doctor or caregiver.
Who Needs It?
Telecardiology is very beneficial for a variety of people. Its most obvious uses include people living in remote areas. Not having access to specialists can be at best inconvenient, at worst dangerous.
In theory, any general practitioner or medical clinic can use telecardiology equipment. Rather than travel thousands of miles to the best specialists, your local doctor could bring their expertise to you. Those who may need constant monitoring or specialist medical diagnosis have another option.
Single-lead versions of telecardiology equipment are available. It resembles a watch and allows patients to record their data from the comfort of their own homes. This makes it possible to monitor symptoms in real-time as they arise and rush to your local clinic if needed.
If there’s no rush and your symptoms feel manageable, you can rest easy. You can use the watch to store all relevant data and then drop it into the doctor’s office whenever you want. From there, your local doctor can send the data off for regular analysis to let you know if anything changes.
This at-home approach has a major advantage in that it can record symptoms when they occur. It’s annoying trying to explain to the doctor after your symptoms have subsided. With the single-lead device, your doctors can see the data first hand and treat you.
Benefits of Telecardiology
There are several benefits to telecardiology beyond only accessibility for remote areas. Some of the major ones include reduced cost, increased availability, and increased safety. This last one, the issue of safety, is especially important during the global pandemic.
Cardiology is one of the most at-risk areas during the pandemic. Heart diseases are not only acquired but are also congenital. The need to treat your heart conditions isn’t something you can put on hold.
This puts both children and adults at risk. It also increases the number of potential patients and the risks of infection. Through telecardiology, you can eliminate at least one link in the chain.
By running your tests at your local clinic, you no longer need to go to a crowded hospital or fly to a city. You also keep your specialist safe, allowing them to diagnose and treat hundreds of other patients. The most important thing is you keep you and your family safe.
You can also save money on travel and accommodation, and treatment. The specialist’s time is valuable, but once they make their diagnosis, your GP takes over.
Your doctor can prescribe treatment that takes your needs into account. Of course, this includes financial ones. All of your documents and data will also be e-transferred, making them easy to access.
This makes telecardiology an easy option for those on the go. Being out of town is no longer an excuse for not being able to follow up with your doctor or specialist.
Telecardiology Makes Remote Diagnosis a Breeze
These days everything is accessible remotely, including ECGs and your heart diagnosis. Telecardiology makes it possible for your local doctor’s office to get you a remote diagnosis through a specialist with ease. With Specialist Direct, you’re sure to be in the right hands.
For any questions or more information, contact us today to see how easy it is to get the specialist care you need.
