Telemedicine is becoming increasingly popular. According to official AHA data, around 76 percent of hospitals are now able to connect with patients for visual inspections and consultations.

In this post, we take a look at some of the benefits of telehealth for both clinics and their patients. Check them out below.

Give Patients Better Access To Specialists

Patients want to be able to use systems, like FaceMyDoc, to connect to specialists. Experts who understand their conditions can provide advice on the spot.

Traditionally, getting hold of a specialist was a challenge. Patients often had to travel between hospitals, making their work far less efficient.

But that’s all changing, though. With new technology, patients are able to get far better access to specialists than they ever could in the past because practitioners can do consultations, back-to-back, one after another.

Improve Rural Coverage

Secondly, it can be challenging for patients who live in rural areas to get around, particularly if they are feeling under the weather. Again, online consultations change the dynamic, providing them with access to medical services, even in the midst of snow and hailstorms.

Reduce Pathogen Exposure

Even before the pandemic, elderly and immune-compromised patients put themselves at risk to attend the doctor’s office. Other patients in the waiting room might have infectious diseases that could make them seriously ill.

Telehealth helps to reduce transmission. Patients can remain in their homes and receive medications through the mail, reducing overall exposure and transmissibility.

Lower Medical Overheads

When doctors are able to provide consultations remotely, it also reduces their overheads. They don’t have to pay for expensive clinics, waiting rooms, kitchens, reception staff, or offices. Instead, they simply provide the services that the patient needs online. This way, healthcare costs will increasingly reflect the value of the physician’s time.

Better Psychiatric Support

Psychiatric problems can strike at any time and make it difficult for patients to get the help they need, particularly late at night. For that reason, online psychiatric help could be a life-saver. Instead of calling charities or counselors, patients could instead connect via video link to trained professionals able to diagnose and provide sound medical advice. Mental health emergency patients – where the individual is at risk of self-harm – could quickly connect to a therapist at any time of the day or night.

Improve Business Models

In the past, specialists had to work in shared facilities with other physicians to get access to patients. But, thanks to telehealth, that’s no longer true. Expert doctors can now simply access their audience online, without the need to go via a separate agency first.

Because of this, new business models are exploding in popularity. Specialists can now extend their client base beyond the clinic. Both online and offline patients are available.

Improve Efficiency

Lastly, telehealth leads to enormous improvements in clinical efficiency. Doctors can host consultations continuously and eliminate gaps between patients. Telehealth systems can also route patients to the practitioner most able to help them. Only a few will actually need consultations with highly trained physicians.