Author: Sameera Reddymeka
Telemedicine is a system of electronic communication to provide patients with virtual check ups. Telemedicine has been very efficient due to the many benefits it provides to various patients. However it does have it’s disadvantages and is not the best option for everyone.
This system of telemedicine is a great source to have for small check ups; it is especially productive for those who find it hard to physically go to a hospital. Telemedicine can also minimize your trips to a hospital for simple reasons including: renewing prescriptions, speech therapy, small talks with doctors, and small questions, etc. Not only does this system save you time, but also money. Those that utilize telemedicine spend less time in a hospital, which benefits with cost savings.
Even though telemedicine is very accessible it is not always the appropriate option to receive medical help. During in-person check ups, physicians can fully examine a patient and understand all the symptoms. Telemedicine relies on patient self-reports and is not always accurate. This can lead to the ignorance of not having full reports of all symptoms. To add on, even though telemedicine is time efficient, it can come with technological concerns. Many different problems could occur, for example weak connection. Some do not even have access to technology or wifi due to low income. This totally restricts patients from being able to use telemedicine as a whole.
Coming from the words of a family medical practitioner who works in Urgent Care, Dr. Reddy states her opinions on telemedicine. She personally does not use telemedicine frequently. However, when COVID-19 cases were the worst in New Jersey, she found it helpful to still have patient check ups. Overall, she found that it wasn’t the best option for everyone due to many reasons. The usage of technology wasn’t comfortable for everyone or some did not have proper access to it. Through her experiences with telemedicine, she prefers in-person patient visits.
Sources:
Villines, Zawn. “Telemedicine Benefits, Disadvantages, and Uses.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 20 Apr. 2020, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/telemedicine-benefits.
Image Source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/doctor-online-medical-chat-4068134/