Do you have a parent or a relative that has been diagnosed with a chronic illness who’s living independently? Would you like to have their health monitored on a regular basis and ensure that they are provided with the best medical care?
If so, look no further than Telehealth systems.
Telehealth is a subspecialty of EHealth that involves delivery of clinical and non-clinical information between physicians, healthcare providers and patients via telecommunication technologies.
A patient’s vital signs are frequently monitored with the help of electronic sensors and equipment which then pass the data to a central system where the levels can be monitored by the physicians and other healthcare providers on a regular basis.
Monitoring the individual vital signs on a regular basis enables physicians to more accurately diagnose, assess and manage the individual’s condition.
Those suffering from chronic illnesses need to have their blood pressure, blood glucose, and oxygen and weight levels regularly monitored. Earlier, the only option to have these levels monitored and reported to physicians was by paying a visit to the hospital.
Checking into the ER room for every such visit can be expensive. Apart from ER visits, regular consultations with physicians are hard to get as well. Depending on the physician, the average wait time can be anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks.
And that’s where telehealth monitoring systems come in handy.
Telehealth monitoring systems have electronic sensors and other equipment which are hooked to the internet for transfer of data. The electric sensors can monitor all kinds of things such as patient’s blood pressure, glucose levels, heart rate, oxygen levels, weight, etc.
As soon as the necessary data is recorded, it is transmitted to the shared server between the patient and the clinician from where the clinician can assess the condition and recommend treatment for the illness accordingly.
Another benefit of telehealth is that it replaces the need for regular visits to the doctor. Patients with chronic illnesses are often required to visit the hospital for advice and medical opinion on a weekly or monthly basis.
Getting an appointment for such consultations can be hard and frustrating. The time taken away from the work and the costs involved may actually deter many patients from actually visiting their doctor.
Telehealth can be extremely valuable in such cases. Telehealth technology now allows patients to consult with their doctors electronically with the help of video conferencing equipment and get their medical condition examined and have their prescriptions refilled.
A typical consultation with a doctor at the hospital can cost anywhere from $200 – $800 depending on the hospital and the physician’s expertise. But with a telehealth prodvider, such as MDLIVE, you will be able to get in touch with a board-certified physician for as little as $50.
You may not be able to meet the same physician via the telehealth system. However, you’ll still be able to get the opinion you need from a board-certified specialist who is capable of prescribing appropriate treatment methods for you.
And the best part about telehealth services is that you can get medical opinion from a certified board specialist in less than an hour.
If you are experiencing an urgent non-life threatening medical issue in the middle of the night, you can logon to the telehealth provider’s interface and choose to speak with an available physician.
You’ll be able to get in touch with them in less than an hour and get their medical opinion without having to leave the comfort of your home.
