Telemedicine is the branch of healthcare that uses information technology to provide healthcare services to patients at a distance.

With the advancement in information technology and telecommunication, healthcare services can also be delivered from a distance, with patients and doctors not having to be present at the same location.

Telemedicine uses the internet, smartphones, information technology, and other emerging technologies to better serve its users.

Telemedicine can include everything from conducting medical visits over smartphones or laptops to monitoring patients’ vital signs remotely.

With the use of telemedicine, the healthcare provider or doctor is sitting at one end, and the healthcare service seeker or patient is present at the other. With the use of technology and the internet, they can communicate through their smartphones or laptops without any face-to-face meeting.

It’s a popular alternative to traditional healthcare services in which healthcare services seekers (patients) have to travel long distances to their providers (doctors) offices, clinics, or hospitals for diagnosis and treatment and oversee their conditions.

Basically, it was invented early in the year 1959, but its popularity and necessity increased with the coronavirus pandemic of 2019 due to the fear of the spread of the coronavirus.

Ways of telemedicine

There are three possible ways to delivery medical care with the use of telemedicine

Synchronous:

When the communication between a healthcare provider or medical professional and a healthcare seeker or patient is taking place in real time, it is called synchronous.

For example, video call consultation with the use of smartphones or laptops.

Asynchronous:

When the communication between a healthcare provider or medical professional and a healthcare seeker or patient is not taking place in real time, it is called asynchronous.

For example, patients sharing laboratory reports, x-rays, MRI, or CT scans with their doctor through text messages.

From the other side, the doctor is giving the patient some advice, lifestyle modification, or treatment plan through text messages.

Remote patient monitoring:

when measurements such as weight or blood pressure are sent to the health care provider for assessment.

Benefits of telemedicine

Convenience:

The first and foremost benefit of telemedicine is convenience. Patients or medical care seekers can easily access their healthcare professionals from anywhere, anytime, without being bound by location and time.

They can access their doctors from the comfort of their homes and offices without taking off from their responsibilities.

Time and location convenience is the general benefit all patients can enjoy. But certain individuals, like physically handicapped, individuals in their old age, and living in rural areas, can specifically benefit from it.

Improved access:

Through telemedicine, access to medical care has improved for all, but especially those living in rural and underserved areas where healthcare services are not adequate.

They can consult their providers without leaving their homes, and wait for hours outside busy clinics.

Cost-effective:

Telemedicine has reduced the cost for both the patients and the doctors.

Doctors do not need any physical office or clinic, which reduces their expenses. Patients, on the other hand, do not have to travel long distances to doctor’s offices, reducing their transportation and parking expenses.

Time and energy conservation:

Patients are visiting their doctors through video calls or text messages from their homes and offices, and doctor’s also do not have to be present at a certain place at a certain time. It gives both doctors and patients time and energy conservation.

Limitations of telemedicine

Although there are plenty of benefits to Telemedicine, there are also some limitations to the use of these services

Lack of physical examination:

It’s the limitation of telemedicine, as both patients and doctors are not present at the same time at the same location. The doctors are not able to do a physical examination of the patient.

Physical examination is a vital step after patient history to help in diagnosis.

Physical examination also gives the patient satisfaction.

This lack of physical examination is the limitation of telemedicine over the traditional healthcare system.

Technical issues: 

The basis of telemedicine is technology. This doctor-patient meeting is made possible with the use of the internet, smartphones, or laptops. So any issue in the internet or gadgets makes it impossible to receive the required care.

Insurance coverage:

Although telemedicine is evolving and many insurance companies are starting to recognize that patients receive care through it and give it coverage. But still there are certain insurance companies that did not give coverage to their policy users.

Technology use in older age groups:

Certain age groups, like old individuals, have difficulty using technology and gadgets. Some other groups who cannot use technology are lunatics and children. This is also the limitation of telemedicine over traditional medicine: it is not for everyone.

 Conclusion

Telemedicine is the delivery of medical care to remote patients through the use of modern technology.

It has the potential to deliver better medical care than the traditional system. Telemedicine has many benefits, like convenience, cost effectiveness, time and energy conservation, and improved and easy access to medical care by remote patients.

Telemedicine also has a few limitations, which are technical issues, lack of physical examination of patients, insurance coverage, and the use of technology in older age groups.