Role of Telehealth During COVID-19

The world seems to be entering a new era, a more digitalised age where everything is available at the click of a button. The technological advancements made in the health industry should, therefore, come as no surprise. This advancement has come to be known as telehealth and it has proven itself to be a game changer. Especially in today’s COVID 19 riddled world, where the coronavirus is still a viable threat, telemedicine platforms have proven its worth by providing the public and the doctors just what they need.

What is Telehealth?

Telehealth is best described as a digitised version of getting medical help. For example, a few years ago, if you wanted to get a check-up you would have to travel to the clinic to get an appointment. Then you would have to sit in the waiting area with the long queues, get your consultation and travel back. This would waste the precious time and the little energy that an ill person has. Now, the process has advanced so much so that someone can get their coronavirus test and lab report from the comfort of their homes along with an extra advantage, a consultation.

With the help of one’s handy smartphone device and a few clicks of a button one can easily get the medical help they need as soon as possible. From counting calories, to having full-fledged consultation sessions, there are applications and websites for everything. Telehealth has allowed for people to contact leading doctors, get the treatment they need, and get the help they deserve, all without exposing themselves while preserving their energy.

Telehealth and its Benefits:

Technology and improved communication, generally, have made life easier for people as is. By allowing people to stay connected with their loved ones and give them necessary updates, it has never been this easy to get in touch with someone from halfway across the world. Now, you can take online courses in your dream university. You can celebrate your anniversary with your spouse despite not even being on the same continent. You can even take virtual tours of the place you’ve been meaning to visit. All without moving a muscle!

And Telehealth is no different. It has become much easier for people to take advantage of the best medical personnel that this world has to offer. This is especially helpful when it comes to remote and rural areas where there is a lack of expert physicians and doctors. With a few video calls and a little patience, people can connect themselves with doctors who practice thousands of miles away. This helps reduce the divide that income inequality has caused whereby only the rich and resourceful can receive the best medical care while the underprivileged have to fend for themselves.

The Advantages of Telehealth in COVID 19

We are currently living in very unprecedented times (With the world moving towards a more virtual reality as is and hospitals becoming more and more dangerous, with regards to spreading the virus) It should come as no surprise that people are starting to use telehealth facilities in order to treat themselves and their families. In a world where people are meant to stay home, and doctors are meant to stay at work, Telehealth may be the answer to our prayers.

Telehealth gives people the option to book lab tests, get lab reports, virtual consultations, and top tier medical advice from their homes. Therefore, allowing for social distancing and lack of person-to-person contact.

Moreover, the benefits of Telehealth have also been acknowledged by leading medical professionals. The Mayo Health Clinic and the World Health Organization provide updates on COVID 19 through their website. These institutes also provide you with facilities to book a virtual consultation and seek medical guidance through their portals. In a world where staying 6 feet apart is a must, Telehealth seems to be the only viable solution.

Telehealth provides hospitals and clinics with the platform to raise awareness through mass media. Easy to watch videos and informative posters explaining how people should properly wash their hands and wear masks make it easier to spread knowledge and awareness. During the quarantine, there was a mass movement of doctors churning out content for the general public and explaining the dire conditions in the hospitals and informing people as to how to keep themselves and their families safe.

Conclusion

The advantages of telehealth are aplenty, and one can clearly see their benefits in our world today. With the rampant coronavirus outbreak, we need Telehealth now more than ever. But as everything in excess is poison, we also need to keep a close check on everything that we sign up for. You can do this by questioning and confirming the legitimacy of every doctor and every lab report you come across. Telehealth will be our way of living now, whether the coronavirus is here to stay or not, and we will still need this useful resource to improve our standard of living.