If you’re in need of medical care, just getting out of the house can be a struggle some days. But just as technology is allowing us to connect with friends across the world in new and exciting ways every day, it’s also allowing us to connect with our care providers as well. Telehealth is the use of telecommunication technology to enhance health care in general, and telemedicine is the application of the technologies to improve the quality of health care given. Both are similar in scope, but telehealth is the overall subject name.
Telemedicine covers a wide variety of applications, so it can be used in many different situations. An example of telemedicine would be using video communications such as Skype to meet with your doctor instead of going to his or her office. Another would be if a patient uses a mobile device to take a picture of an injury and sends that to their doctor. Additionally, if two doctors use an application to send patient records between them that would also be considered telemedicine. Telemedicine has a number of different applications to help facilitate the best care possible.
Telemedicine when used properly allows practitioners and patients to connect without the commute. A patient can simply use their mobile device or personal computer to get in touch with their clinician if they have any questions, need reminders, or have a condition that they wish to have checked out but isn’t worth a trip to the office. This is especially helpful for seniors who may struggle to maintain their independence and ability to transport themselves to their care providers on their terms as they get older.
Many commercial insurance providers offer telemedicine as a covered benefit, and more and more doctors are offering some type of telemedicine services to their patients. If you would like to know more about the different ways that telemedicine can make your life easier and your healthcare more personalized, need help finding a doctor, or want to learn more about ensuring that your care is the best it can be for you, contact us at CareAnswered. We’re here to help.