Telemedicine was originally created to treat patients who lived in remote areas, away from hospitals and medical facilities. These areas also represented places where access to even a single practicing medical professional was difficult due to location. Through the advancements in technology over the years, the doors have opened wide to now having 24/7 access to medical care via phone or video conferencing.
Telemedicine provides users with a way to remotely connect with live doctors at any time, from anywhere.
The uses of telemedicine encompass a long list of ailments which can be treated virtually by a primary care physician. Doctors are able to remotely evaluate, diagnose and treat patients anytime, and from any location. A few acute diagnoses that are beneficial to utilizing telemedicine include allergies, sore throat, sprains & strains, rashes, UTIs, insect bites, diarrhea, vomiting and much more. A secondary use of telemedicine by doctors is to continue treatment from afar to ensure continuity of care. Examples of continuity of care include post-hospitalization follow-ups, chronic diagnosis management, elderly support to avoid hospitalizations, drug administration training, and pre-natal/post-natal care.
The use of this service is for any minor yet urgent illness or injury without making a trip to the ER spending unnecessary time in the waiting room, while saving money with a minimal co-pay for access.
The use of telemedicine is a powerful way to avoid unnecessary spending on healthcare while increasing access to medical care for individuals. The quality of care a patient receives is improved through this benefit as a general practitioner can consult with a specialist and determine the most appropriate and effective treatment for a patient. Without this ability, patients could be waiting months to get an appointment with a specialist in which their condition may deteriorate, ultimately increasing their overall healthcare costs.
Ultimately, telemedicine has developed into a powerful tool to assist patients ability to access the care of a doctor. This service also provides cost containment on healthcare services and improves the quality of life of individuals seeking follow-up management or specialist care.
At American Online Benefits Group, we offer several benefits that include access to telemedicine through our partnership with Teladoc. This provides you with access to a licensed doctor by web, phone or mobile app in 10 minutes or less. Please contact us for more information.
