November 21, 2018
There is no doubt that the world of today is being driven by technology. From finance to manufacturing to human resource, the huge role played by modern technology is closer. The healthcare space has also leveraged on this technological advancement in a bid to make services, available to all and affordable. This is what has created the concept of telehealth.
There are several factors that have led to this change of practice. The main driver for the change appears to be improved technology. Sharing of videos and pictures is very easy today and live chats have made things even more real time. Patients and their healthcare providers can thus be in touch regularly. Another important improvement has occurred in the pharmaceutical industry. Today, there are many effective drugs that can be safely administered at home hence no need for admission to hospital.
One of the areas that has greatly benefited from the adoption of this concept is the management of chronic diseases. Conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic renal failure and asthma have often meant that patients pay their physicians regular visits to monitor their progress. This is, however, rapidly changing as many of these patients can be monitored remotely and managed which saves them both money and time.
Doctors often have to consult with each other in the course of discharging their duties. Teleconferencing allows them to deliberate on certain challenging cases as a team even when they are not in the same geographical location. The history and physical findings can be shared among several experts and a solution can be reached faster than waiting for everyone to be in direct contact with the patient.
Registered nurses have also taken advantage of this technological advancement and are now engaging in what is known as telenursing. This is a system of nursing where a registered nurse provides their services without being physically present. This system has been quite helpful for patients with chronic conditions in remote locations who for one reason or another are living alone. It is a cheaper option as compared to the traditional form of home based care.
Just as happened in many other industries, technology has been a major disruption in healthcare. Disruptions everywhere tend to face a lot of resistance. Some doctors of older generations initially showed resistance for a number of reasons. One of them was the fact that they had to shift from using print to computers and this required them to learn new skills. Others simply feared that they would lose their jobs.
Although many patients have not had issues with the new form of technology, some still hold some fears. The fear of unauthorized access to their private information is perhaps the biggest. As time has proved, however, information is perhaps even safer than that stored in physical files. Restrictions to access have been achieved with the use of user names and passwords.
The use of telecommunication systems in the provision of healthcare services is a train that has already left the station. Stakeholders need to accept and carve out their space. Although a number of concerns still exist, there is no doubt that the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. Many patients are projected to be beneficiaries of these systems in years to come.
There are several factors that have led to this change of practice. The main driver for the change appears to be improved technology. Sharing of videos and pictures is very easy today and live chats have made things even more real time. Patients and their healthcare providers can thus be in touch regularly. Another important improvement has occurred in the pharmaceutical industry. Today, there are many effective drugs that can be safely administered at home hence no need for admission to hospital.
One of the areas that has greatly benefited from the adoption of this concept is the management of chronic diseases. Conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic renal failure and asthma have often meant that patients pay their physicians regular visits to monitor their progress. This is, however, rapidly changing as many of these patients can be monitored remotely and managed which saves them both money and time.
Doctors often have to consult with each other in the course of discharging their duties. Teleconferencing allows them to deliberate on certain challenging cases as a team even when they are not in the same geographical location. The history and physical findings can be shared among several experts and a solution can be reached faster than waiting for everyone to be in direct contact with the patient.
Registered nurses have also taken advantage of this technological advancement and are now engaging in what is known as telenursing. This is a system of nursing where a registered nurse provides their services without being physically present. This system has been quite helpful for patients with chronic conditions in remote locations who for one reason or another are living alone. It is a cheaper option as compared to the traditional form of home based care.
Just as happened in many other industries, technology has been a major disruption in healthcare. Disruptions everywhere tend to face a lot of resistance. Some doctors of older generations initially showed resistance for a number of reasons. One of them was the fact that they had to shift from using print to computers and this required them to learn new skills. Others simply feared that they would lose their jobs.
Although many patients have not had issues with the new form of technology, some still hold some fears. The fear of unauthorized access to their private information is perhaps the biggest. As time has proved, however, information is perhaps even safer than that stored in physical files. Restrictions to access have been achieved with the use of user names and passwords.
The use of telecommunication systems in the provision of healthcare services is a train that has already left the station. Stakeholders need to accept and carve out their space. Although a number of concerns still exist, there is no doubt that the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. Many patients are projected to be beneficiaries of these systems in years to come.
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