How does telemedicine work in different treatments?

 

Telemedicine has now come as a primary solution for many doctors and patients in this day and age. You can get care from a certified and licensed doctor or other healthcare providers without going to the hospital. Patients can book online consultations with their doctors easily. There are so many health conditions treated with telemedicine like mental health, respiratory illnesses, ongoing health conditions like diabetes, BP, etc., and dermatology. Even with having so many smartphone apps and healthcare devices, there are still many health conditions that you cannot handle with telemedicine.

First of all, we will discuss the health conditions that can be treated with telemedicine and to what extent. Later on, we will discuss when to seek emergency care.

Acute Conditions

Telemedicine is very convenient and easy in seasons when allergies and pollen counts are at an all-time high, i.e. cold and flu. Patients can arrange their video conference or call at their home rather than visiting a doctor's office. They can discuss their health issues and respond to their doctors. In return, doctors write prescriptions and provide medical advice if the diagnosis is possible. Here are the standard conditions they can treat over telemedicine -

● Bronchitis

● Allergies

● Conjunctivitis

● Cold and Flu

● Poison ivy

● Ear infections

When needed, doctors may also refer patients for further diagnosis in a lab if they suspect urinary tract infection or strep throat. It is also common for follow-up treatment, such as monitoring a patient's progress with a new prescription after surgery.

Chronic Conditions

Telemedicine is helpful to monitor chronic conditions. It can improve self-care for patients as they get more active and involved in their health. Remote tracking and patient cooperation can play a vital role in improving the success rate of telemedicine.

Here are some of the conditions to treat with telehealth -

● Stroke - This condition is very time-sensitive. A lot of hospitals use telehealth to work with experts. It ensures a more accurate and faster diagnosis. It enables remote monitoring and deployment of tissue plasminogen activators.

● Congestive heart failure - Traditional management leads to high mortality and hospitalization rates, and it doesn't do much to promote an active patient's role. Patient empowerment is very helpful for recovery. This way, home monitoring equipment can collect essential patient data and directly provide this information to the healthcare provider. Some telemedicine programs provide details like heart rate, blood pressure, weight, oxygen levels, etc., and even ECG data. Machines can collect information in real-time and inform the concerned specialists.

● COPD - Regular monitoring can also treat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A patient can schedule an appointment with a pulmonologist at the official telehealth portal. Online education programs can be helpful for the patient to manage and monitor their conditions.

● Other usual conditions that can be monitored via telemedicine are -

o Arthritis - In that case, the doctor can help on inflammation, pain management, medications, and referrals to a specialist.

o Asthma - Emergency treatment is also needed in case of severe asthma. This way, a doctor can determine whether they can treat a patient at home or when they need an ER visit.

o Chronic skin issues - Ongoing care can treat skin conditions like psoriasis and acne. Skin conditions can be controlled with initial treatments. Primary care doctors may help patients to see a dermatologist or manage flare-ups. They can view problem areas with video chat and send photos to the labs directly.

At-home telemedicine

Here are the practical solutions for patients to make the most of telemedicine -

● BP Monitors - These home care devices are ubiquitous. Today, they are more compact, intelligent and cost-effective.

● Blood Glucose monitors - It is best suited for diabetes patients and patients with pre-diabetes. This device can monitor glucose levels and send alerts to the doctor when readings go out of control.

● Heart rate monitors - They are accommodating to reduce hospitalization rates for patients at risk with early detection. It sends notifications to the doctors only when readings are not expected.

● Sleep apnea devices - They have both investigatory and direct treatment features. They provide data on patients' body position, breathing, and sleep patterns.

Treatments cannot be done over Telehealth

Telemedicine is definitely not for deadly situations and emergencies when a patient experiences potentially dangerous signs and symptoms. Emergency services are required when you or someone you know to experience these conditions -

● Problem in breathing

● Severe allergic reaction "Anaphylaxis"

● Signs of stroke, including facial drooping or one-sided weakness

● Symptoms and signs of heart attacks, such as shortness of breath and crushing chest pain

● Unexplained bleeding

● Traumatic injuries because of accident or fall

● Head injury

Telemedicine can work in underlying health conditions and minor cases. But some treatments can be done only with hospitalization and in-person care. Docgenie provides online doctor consultation, video chat, Telehealth, online appointments for doctors and hospitals in India.

for Read More: https://www.quora.com/How-does-telemedicine-work-in-different-treatments/answer/Lokesh-Goyal-19?prompt_topic_bio=1

What Kinds Of Treatments Are Better Not Done Over Telemedicine?

 

Telemedicine has now come as a primary solution for many doctors and patients in this day and age.  You can get care from a certified and licensed doctor or other healthcare providers without going to the hospital. Patients can book online consultations with their doctors easily. There are so many health conditions treated with telemedicine like mental health, respiratory illnesses, ongoing health conditions like diabetes, BP, etc. and dermatology. Even with having so many smartphone apps and healthcare devices, there are still many health conditions that you cannot handle with telemedicine.

 First of all, we will discuss the health conditions that can be treated with telemedicine and to what extent. Later on, we will discuss when to seek emergency care.

 Acute Conditions

Telemedicine is very convenient and easy in seasons when allergies and pollen counts are at an all-time high, i.e. cold and flu. Patients can arrange their video conference or call at their home rather than visiting a doctor’s office. They can discuss their health issues and respond to their doctors. In return, doctors write prescriptions and provide medical advice if the diagnosis is possible. Here are the standard conditions they can treat over telemedicine –

●       Bronchitis

●       Allergies

●       Conjunctivitis

●       Cold and Flu

●       Poison ivy

●       Ear infections

 When needed, Online doctors may also refer patients for further diagnosis in a lab if they suspect urinary tract infection or strep throat. It is also common for follow-up treatment, such as monitoring a patient's progress with a new prescription after surgery.

 Chronic Conditions

Telemedicine is helpful to monitor chronic conditions. It can improve self-care for patients as they get more active and involved in their health. Remote tracking and patient’s cooperation can play a vital role in improving the success rate of telemedicine.

 Here are some of the conditions to treat with telehealth  –

●       Stroke – This condition is very time-sensitive. A lot of hospitals use telehealth to work with experts. It ensures more accurate and faster diagnosis. It enables remote monitoring and deployment of tissue plasminogen activators.

●       Congestive heart failure – Traditional management leads to high mortality and hospitalization rates, and it doesn’t do much to promote an active patient’s role. Patient’s empowerment is very helpful for recovery. This way, home monitoring equipment can collect essential patient data and directly provide this information to the healthcare provider. Some telemedicine programs provide details like heart rate, blood pressure, weight, oxygen levels, etc. and even ECG data. Machines can collect information in real-time and inform the concerned specialists.

●       COPD – Regular monitoring can also treat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A patient can schedule an appointment with a pulmonologist at the official telehealth portal. Online education programs can be helpful for the patient to manage and monitor their conditions.

●       Other usual conditions that can be monitored via telemedicine are -

o   Arthritis – In that case, the doctor can help on inflammation, pain management, medications, and referrals to a specialist.

o   Asthma – Emergency treatment is also needed in case of severe asthma. This way, a doctor can determine whether they can treat a patient at home or when they need an ER visit.

o   Chronic skin issues – Ongoing care can treat skin conditions like psoriasis and acne. Skin conditions can be controlled with initial treatments. Primary care doctors may help patients to see a dermatologist or manage flare-ups. They can view problem areas with video chat and send photos to the labs directly.

 At-home telemedicine

Here are the practical solutions for patients to make the most of telemedicine -

●        BP Monitors – These home care devices are ubiquitous. Today, they are more compact, intelligent and cost effective.

●        Blood Glucose monitors – It is best suited for diabetes patients and patients with pre-diabetes. This device can monitor glucose levels and send alerts to the doctor when readings go out of control.

●        Heart rate monitors – They are accommodating to reduce hospitalization rates for patients at risk with early detection. It sends notifications to the doctors only when readings are not expected.

●        Sleep apnea devices – They have both investigatory and direct treatment features. They provide data on patients’ body position, breathing, and sleep patterns.

 Treatments cannot be done over Telehealth

Telemedicine is definitely not for deadly situations and emergencies when a patient experiences potentially dangerous signs and symptoms. Emergency services are required when you or someone you know experience these conditions –

●        Problem in breathing

●        Severe allergic reaction “Anaphylaxis”

●        Signs of stroke, including facial drooping or one-sided weakness

●        Symptoms and signs of heart attacks, such as shortness of breath and crushing chest pain

●        Unexplained bleeding

●        Traumatic injuries because of accident or fall

●        Head injury

 Bottom Line

Telemedicine can work in underlying health conditions and minor cases. But some treatments can be done only with hospitalization and in-person care.

Does the Quality Of Care Get Compromised On Telemedicine?

 

COVID-19 has brought an unexpected and dramatic shift towards people's lives, and there has been a sudden demand for telemedicine. For those who don’t know, telemedicine is a new concept that involves using technology like the internet, smartphone, and video conferencing to provide healthcare services. It can even compete with in-person care in most cases with the right approach. But there is a slight learning curve for many healthcare experts and patients who have just started using telemedicine.

 

How to ensure the right approach to using telemedicine is a matter of concern for both patients and healthcare providers to avoid any compromise on the quality of care.

 

Types of Telemedicine Technologies

Remote Monitoring, Synchronous, and Asynchronous are three telemedicine technologies. It is essential to learn how to choose the right technology at the right time to ensure quality care.

 

First is synchronous, which is modern technology. It merely refers to 2-way, live audio/visual interaction. Generally, video interaction is better for healthcare providers as they can talk face-to-face to the patient. But it still has some limitations. For example, they cannot take blood samples online.

 

Remote monitoring can resolve a lot of problems associated with the above approach. There are specific devices patients can use at home to gather essential health data synced to the cloud, and healthcare providers can easily access them.  These devices can monitor body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and other indicators to keep patients' health in check. In some cases, remote health monitoring has been found better for many chronic health conditions than in-person treatment.

 

Asynchronous telemedicine can help fill some gaps between providers and patients. They can discuss symptoms, answer queries, schedule appointments, get prescription refills, etc. over the internet.

 

Sadly, many patients and healthcare providers still don’t have experience or technology for remote monitoring or video conferencing. Even though they have all these technologies handy, there are still some health issues that need in-person care.

 

Who should use telemedicine?

Telemedicine is mostly recommended for patients who need to know the cause of a short-term illness or severity of a sudden injury and people with underlying conditions. They can easily check-in and get telehealth services online and save their time and money accessing in-person care. Telemedicine is even better and safer than in-person care when managing chronic and ongoing conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease.

 

But the catch here is to use this approach effectively to treat and diagnose sudden health issues. You need to know which conditions you can treat remotely. For example, you visit a clinic or hospital for medical advice because of a sudden fall or injury to check if your arm is safe. As usual, you will come across a primary care doctor. They will diagnose the injury and provide basic first aid and medical advice. They may suggest you take some painkiller, put some ice on the painful area, and take some rest, if nothing seems to be broken but you have a wide bruise. If it looks fractured, they may want an x-ray.

 

The initial consultation can be done online to save your time and stress. You will leave your home only when you need an x-ray or emergency treatment.  This way, telemedicine can save some unnecessary hospital visits and ambulance rides by providing the same care for stomach pains, nausea, minor injuries, and other small health issues as in-person care.

 

But when it comes to diagnosing respiratory illness and sore throat causes, especially in this pandemic period, telemedicine is not much useful. It is also not effective obviously in emergencies like chest pain, severe bleeding, or troubled breathing.

 

The Takeaway

Telemedicine is an instrumental technology when used the right way and in the right circumstances. But one must also consider the burden and risk associated with getting treatment. Getting in-person care every time is risky nowadays. If you feel that you are having any chronic medical condition or heart attack, you must immediately go to the hospital. But there is no point in getting in-person consultation for treating any small problem like acne.

 

You should also consider the wait times, commute, taking a day off, and other inconveniences associated with in-person care, especially when you need prescription refills for existing treatment. But you have to take this burden when the doctor calls you for blood sampling to ensure that the medicine is still working. 

 

It is evident that telemedicine cannot treat all medical conditions. But it is still useful in many cases as compared to in-person care. As we need to address other issues in the COVID-19 era, consider the right option and ask about the services available from your telehealthcare providers, your preferences, and your risks.