What is Telemedicine and its Benefits

Telemedicine is a medical field based on the use of modern communication technologies to provide remote medical care and consultations. It does not belong to independent disciplines but is an auxiliary tool for therapeutic and surgical specialties.

Some examples of telemedicine:

• Remote analysis of the results of studies conducted at another clinic. This can include both the actual numerical data (the results of laboratory analyzes of biological fluids, instrumental methods of research), and the studied samples themselves – for example, these can be digital images of organ and tissue biopsy samples;
• Consultation of patients;
• Remote assistance during surgical interventions;
• Distant education of medical personnel, “telementoring.”

With advances in telemedicine, the parameters of the cardiovascular system of patients are able to be measured without leaving home. This remote analysis is followed by sending the captured data to a specialized center to be studied. It is a particularly exciting advancement in the field of cardiovascular medicine given the prevalence of heart disease.

An example of another type of frequently used telemedicine is home-based spirometry – a study of the functional capabilities of the respiratory system, in particular with bronchial asthma: for example, the European Lung Foundation reports a study showing that the results of patients who performed spirometry at home were comparable to the results obtained by doctors.

The objectives of telemedicine are logically related to the benefits that telemedicine technology can provide.

1. In some cases, a significant problem is the remoteness of a large part of the country’s population from major medical centers. Getting to them is often not only a matter of finance but also time. Hence, one of the goals is to provide a remote patient with qualified and timely medical care.
2. The gradual expansion of the range of outpatient or inpatient medical services that could be obtained at home.
3. Provide direct access to the doctor bypassing traditional wait times. An option for such an implementation is electronic queues already practiced in many medical institutions.
4. Providing the ability to monitor around the clock for certain diseases.
5. Reduce healthcare costs.
6. Address the lack of medical personnel.

The Essence of Telemedicine

Medical attention might be needed while on vacation, or in a remote place. Let’s say a cold has arisen and urgently needs to be addressed to not spoil the vacation. Treating yourself is often a bad idea, and telemedicine makes it possible to consult a doctor online, describe your symptoms, and send a photo of the complications (if needed).

After evaluating the symptoms listed above, the doctor may prescribe certain drugs that, if they do not cure the ailment, will remove the symptoms. Of course, with serious concerns, hospitalization may be advised.

Also, sometimes the exacerbation of a pre-existing condition might occur, such as gastritis. In this case, the patient might need a specific treatment plan that could be ordered by the doctor online.

Among other things, telemedicine simplifies the receipt of medical care and allows you to reach many more patients in the same amount of time. It also allows patients to receive care in a timely manner.

Online Consulting – Self-medication

Self-medication is a common practice during which patients neglect to see a doctor, make their own diagnosis, and try to treat themselves. However, as practice shows, this often leads to bad results and the deterioration of the patient’s health status. After all, general knowledge of drugs can’t guarantee recovery because:

1. Often you need to combine medications;
2. Dosage varies based on the illness
3. Medication times must be determined by the doctor

Self-medication is not a smart idea because recovery is not guaranteed and there is also the possibility of doing harm to the body due to improper use of drugs.

Therefore, online consultation is a kind of panacea, which is intended for those who do not want to spend a lot of time visiting medical centers. In a simple and convenient form, via chat or online conference, the attending physician will prescribe medication and advise on contraindications and the regimen to follow.

Types of Services in Telemedicine

Telemedicine allows doctors and patients to communicate in real-time remotely. Consider what telemedicine services exist, to whom they will be useful, and how they differ.

• Online doctor consultation. Sessions can be held anywhere, not just at the clinic. Communication is supported by telephony or video. At the same time, the doctor and patient can not only talk but also exchange graphical data: the results of examinations and laboratory tests. Online consultations are useful for those who can’t get to the doctor in person due to lack of time or need urgent, qualified help.
• Remote monitoring of patients. The doctor communicates with patients through special sensors that analyze vital indicators: blood sugar, blood pressure, temperature. Sensors provide data to the storage, where they are then analyzed by doctors. Such consultations are useful for elderly people and people with disabilities who cannot get to the hospital on their own. Using remote monitoring, patients will receive notifications about the need for medication and will know when they need to be examined.
• Online conferences. With the help of video communications and modern IT-technologies, doctors can exchange data. It is necessary for the doctors themselves when they need to get the advice of more experienced colleagues.
• Live broadcasts of surgical operations. The operations are recorded on a video camera and then broadcasted online to medical students. Broadcasting operations are a type of telemedicine that helps in the distance education of medical workers.

Where is Telemedicine Used?

Telemedicine technologies are needed in almost all areas of healthcare: pediatrics (the child does not need to be taken to a hospital where he risks becoming infected even more), venereology (due to the high quality of the image, doctors will be able to diagnose the symptoms and prescribe quality treatment), resuscitation (if the patient is not transportable).

Telemedicine is what many use to get a second opinion. For example, if a patient has doubts about the diagnosis and treatment prescribed, he may turn to another specialist by sending a history of his illness. Such services are especially in demand among cancer patients who are forced to turn to another city or even a country to obtain a second opinion.

Pros and Cons of Telemedicine

Patients note the following advantages of telemedicine for themselves:

• Time-saving. No need to wait for an appointment, spend time looking for hospitals and doctors. Also, you do not need to stand in line to get an appointment with a doctor.
• Availability. To get qualified help, you only need access to the internet. No need to make photocopies of documents, provide a medical card, etc.
• Low cost. To arrange consultations, clinics and doctors do not need to pay overhead costs. Therefore, online consultations are on average 20-30% cheaper than full-time ones.

The main advantage of telemedicine is the expansion of its customer base. That is, the patient can talk with a highly specialized doctor from another city or country. The location of the consultant and consultant does not matter.

Most doctors respond positively to distance consultations: they manage to help more patients, exchange tips and experience, and hold group consultations.

Telemedicine services have some disadvantages:

• The risk of receiving care from a fraudulent doctor.
• Lack of emotional contact with the doctor.
• The risk of transferring information to third parties.

Doctors consider the only drawback of telemedicine is the inability to fully assess the patient’s condition using a webcam. Indeed, many patients might hide real symptoms or be embarrassed to tell the doctor about them. They argue that you can get a complete picture of the disease online if patients openly talk about their symptoms and share even the smallest details of their condition.