The COVID-19 Pandemic has led to a lot of changes, not least, how medical care and healing is carried out. More services have been introduced and developed online as patients have not been able to meet their health professionals face to face.
‘Telehealth’ as an umbrella term for a range of services known as TECS (Technology Enabled Care Services). It is a generic term used to describe different technologies provided to meet the health needs of individuals, as well as training of healthcare workers, and meetings of healthcare professionals and administration staff. Whatever your opinion of remote medical services, there are advantages of receiving medical care in this way. For example, remote services can mean that people who find it hard to reach surgeries can access health professionals more easily. It is more convenient for people who find it hard to access transport, live in remote areas, work when the surgery is open and so on. They can therefore contact their health professional in the comfort of their own home. It is more cost efficient for the service provider and potentially for the patient if they are paying privately. It can be easier to get a second opinion.
Time is an important factor. The patient does not have to travel to the appointment, saving time, and while they are waiting for their health professional to contact them, they can continue with other tasks, rather than spending time in waiting room. Telehealth services also make it easier for patients to access services.
Online services are not appropriate for everything, for example, if a person needs surgery or a doctor needs to examine you or if a physiotherapy needs a hands on approach and so on. But as technology continues to improve, telehealth may become more common place and accessible.
If you are interested in improving your knowledge of Telehealth, why not have a look at our new 20 hour self study course or learn more about Telephone and Online Counselling.