Telemedicine

Advances in communication technology are changing the way healthcare professionals are able to connect with their patients and among their peers, offering a greater reach for information to be shared than it was ever possible before. This increase in communication allows doctors to collaborate more quickly, hospitals to operate more efficiently, and provides essential benefits to patients’ and their care.

Video conferencing solutions instantaneously connect the farthest ends of the world, opening up access to specialists and advanced treatment without the need for travel. This technology allows doctors the ability to collaborate in real-time on cases, reviewing the same up-to-date patient information to provide the best care possible. This also allows specialists to work more efficiently, providing their knowledge to a much broader audience including those located in remote areas.

This technology helps hospital and other healthcare operations as well, providing a reduction in travel expenses and minimizing doctor and administrator downtime by allowing them to connect without travel. Healthcare organizations may also reduce their overhead through the sharing of resources, limiting the number of specialists on staff at each location, and sharing their talent across multiple facilities. This technology also allows for hospitals and healthcare providers to offer more advanced training to staff, removing the limitation of location and time. Training sessions may be recorded and played back at a later date when convenient, or used as tools to train new staff without the need to tie up resources to discuss something previously covered.

However, the greatest benefits of telemedicine are those passed on to the patients. Advanced communication systems allow patients to remain near home with their local healthcare provider, closer to their family and friends where they can feel more comfortable. Patients living in remote areas can be diagnosed and treated much more quickly than before and in some cases at all. These patients also have access to specialists that can provide better care for their specific needs. Patient information collected at one location may also be shared with others that need access to it, offering a quicker discovery process and smoother interactions in what can be a very stressful ordeal.

The increased ability to communicate through video conferencing and distance-learning systems provide a much higher level of care to people. From access to specialists, to quicker transfer of patient records and more attentive and experienced staff, organizations embracing the use of technology will take the lead in patient care and gain their recommendation to those around them.

Benefits of telemedicine:

  • Offer real-time communication between patient, provider and specialist to improve the level of care
  • Increase access to top level doctors and specialists regardless of location, allowing rural hospitals the ability to provide more advanced care
  • Reduce the need to transfer patients for special care by providing a more stable environment during treatment
  • Improve training for doctors, nurses and general staff by allowing information to be presented at multiple locations simultaneously
  • Reduce travel expenses and operation carbon footprint
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