Your Life
While advancements in technology have really propelled us forward in its use in our daily lives, the pandemic has been an added boost to technology, specifically through the use of telehealth. Telehealth is the use of digital information and communication technologies to access health care services remotely and manage your health care. The goals of telehealth, sometimes called e-health or m-health (mobile health), include the following:
- Make health care easier to get for people who live in communities that are remote or rural.
- Keep you and others safe if you have an infectious disease such as COVID-19.
- Offer primary care for many conditions.
- Make services more easily offered or handy for people who have limited ability to move, time, or transportation.
- Offer access to medical specialists.
- Improve communication and coordination of care among healthcare team members and the person getting care.
- Offer advice for self-management of health care.
Telehealth services include virtual visits, the use of phone-based or web-based services for medical care or advice, remote monitoring, providers talking to providers (virtual consultation), patient portals, personal health apps, and personal health records that you control and maintain. There are potential downsides which include people that do not have access to technology, risk of gaps in care, overuse of medical care, inappropriate drug use, unnecessary care, costs, insurance reimbursement varies, etc. In addition, not being able to do a physical exam can affect a diagnosis.
Telehealth: Technology meets healthcare
source: Mayo Clinic
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