The COVID 19 pandemic has caused a worldwide stir since it first broke out in Wuhan, China, late last year. At first, it looked like it was only going to be a health crisis that was going to be restricted to certain parts of the world, and most of us did not read much into it.
However, it gained attention globally when it started spreading across the globe at an alarming rate. It almost felt like over a few months, this disease had been reported in virtually all continents, and countries and governments were left grappling for solutions to fight the pandemic.
The only viable solution most governments could find was to curb the spread of the disease by declaring a cessation of movement within its states and cities. You probably had to stay at home and only leave the house when it was necessary.
Apart from staying home, we have to practice social distancing whenever we were in public places. These were just of the measures we had to adhere to, to slow down the spread of the COVID 19.
This meant that life had to change. We could no longer interact and socialize the same way we used to before the pandemic came into the picture. The stay at home and safe distancing directive also impacted the health sector.
Our physician in Germantown, MD, like most doctors, had to find ways of providing medical assistance to patients without them physically showing up to our facility. This need is what has brought about the utilization of Telemedicine within our health sector.
Telemedicine is the utilization of technological devices such as phones and computers by medical practitioners to diagnose, treat, and manage health conditions in patients in different or remote areas.
Telehealth services have been available for decades now, but most patients and doctors are currently adopting them due to COVID-19. Telemedicine has helped ensure that patients can receive medical assistance without having to interact with medical practitioners physically.
Reducing patient visits to health facilities during this pandemic is crucial because it:
Telemedicine has drastically improved the delivery of medical services that would have otherwise been negatively impacted due to the pandemic.
It has allowed medical practitioners like our physician in Germantown MD, a platform that they can use to check on patients, manage health conditions, and carry out regular tasks like refilling patient prescriptions.
Telemedicine has not only been beneficial to patients but also doctors and health care providers.
Here are some of its amazing benefits of it:
Telemedicine enables patients to have access to medical treatment from the comfort of their homes. This means that they do not have to find a way to move their schedule around to make a trip to the doctor’s office.
They can make a phone call and have their medical issue resolved right where they are.
Having not to show up at your doctor’s office for an appointment can protect you against the Coronavirus and, in the long run, curb the spread of the disease. Physically showing up at the hospital increases your chances of exposure to the disease because you may be forced to interact with possibly infected people.
This is particularly vital for patients with chronic health conditions that compromise their immunity making them more susceptible to the disease.
Telemedicine has made it much easier for individuals living with disabilities or old age to gain access to medical services. They do not have to strain and make their way to the doctor’s office for treatment or get a prescription refilled; all this can be done via Telemedicine.
This has also improved the health standards of people who live in remote regions and initially had a difficult time accessing medical services.
Reducing face to face interactions with patients protects medical practitioners against the pandemic. This is because asymptomatic patients can show up seeking other medical services and may infect unsuspecting doctors or nurses in the process during the hospital visit.
Contact us today at Germantown primary health care and experience first-hand the convenience and efficiency of Telemedicine.
