ADS

About

The Benefits Of Telehealth Today

By Frances Sanders


For people who live in rural communities, getting adequate medical care used to be somewhat of a challenge. They either had to trust in the services that were available in their immediate area or they had to drive dozens or even hundreds of miles away from home just to see a doctor. Sometimes the choice can down to for what they had the time and the money. Today, however, people living in rural areas have the option of utilizing telehealth services instead of driving to bigger cities.

Also known as telemedicine, this service involves broadcasting and connecting healthcare facilities and providers in remote areas to hospitals, doctors' offices, and specialists in bigger cities. The connection is often established with wireless Internet. It allows mobile health clinic, rural hospitals, and doctors' offices in small towns to meet and speak virtually with providers located in larger cities often miles away.

The doctor on the other end of the connection can speak in real-time with the patient or the rural healthcare facility provider. The patient avoids making a lengthy drive or having to be transported by ambulance to another facility. The connection is instant and secure, allowing a discreet yet professional meeting to take place right then and there.

The provider in the small town can then consult with the other physician, show medical records, and otherwise conduct a discreet meeting over the Internet. The provider will know how to treat his or her patient without having to send the patient for treatment miles away. This service in particular can help elderly or disabled patients who might be unable to drive themselves.

This meeting is typically covered by insurance companies as well. It is billed as a regular doctor's visit instead of specialized medicine. The patient often does not need to mess with getting a referral in order for it to be paid for and covered. Likewise, this individual can stay close to home without spending money on gas and travel expenses to go to a bigger hospital elsewhere.

In a life threatening situation, this virtual connection could end up saving someone's life. If, for example, a person comes to the hospital with a debilitating injury or illness, he or she might not be stable enough to transport to a bigger hospital. The treating doctor might need to consult with a specialist virtually in order to stabilize the person. This individual would then be able to be transported safely.

When it comes to establishing the services, many smaller hospitals in rural areas are achieving this with government grants. The money allows the facilities to invest in wireless Internet and equipment like mobile computers and smartphones. Many bigger hospitals likewise are partnering with smaller counterparts in order to assist in the process.

Living in a small town no longer has to mean sacrificing high-quality medical care. Patients who live there could benefit from telemedical services set up at their local hospitals or doctors' offices. They avoid making long drives and instead can get what they need locally. The services are paid for with grant money rather than money taken from taxpayers' pockets.




About the Author:



About