Why Telemedicine And Telehealth Will Witness An All-Time High In The US And Other Countries

by Aman Brar Chief Business Analyst

Telemedicine can be defined as the use of information technology and digital communication methods to advance health care services to users. Telemedicine as a segment of the modern version of healthcare services which is also called telehealth comprises transmission of health images and vital stats, use of e-health portals, videoconferencing and remote monitoring of patients across different geographical locations spread around the world. In this post we are discussing how it is going to boom in the coming years and what exactly is going to lead to its growth.

Understanding Telemedicine Before We Delve Further Into How It Has Become So Huge

Telemedicine incorporates live and remote contact between patients and healthcare providers. It also comprises distance education, administrative meetings, provider training, medical education, consumer outreach and much more. Examples of telemedicine include:

Visualization management
Recording and streaming Immersive studio systems
Surgical robots
Software for audio endpoint
Desktop video and voice products
Resource management
Universal collaboration servers
Software and infrastructure
Cameras for the highest quality of video

Understanding Telemedicine Technology Segments

1. Tele-radiology

This is the segment of telemedicine that comprises transmission of digital radiology images from one point to another. It assists in the diagnosis, consultation and treatment of critical patients.

2. Tele-consultation

Virtual communication between specialists / healthcare professionals and patients can be facilitated through tele-consultation. They can discuss diagnosis and various treatment options through web conferencing and audio / video conferencing.

3. Tele-monitoring

This is remote monitoring of patients whether they are at the same location or elsewhere in another city or country. For remote patient monitoring systems to be successful, a patient would have to have a few essential monitoring devices at home the results obtained through which can be sent to the healthcare provider for further diagnosis or creation of a treatment plan.

4. Tele-surgery

It is also known as remote surgery which is primarily performed at the patient's location without the surgeon having to commute long distances. It is performed by a robotic system which is controlled by a specialist from another location.

Following Are The Reasons That Tell Us How Telemedicine Is About To Reach An All Time High In The US And Across The World

Utilization Of Telemedicine Solutions By Medicare Recipients

In the year 2020, a lot of users are going to get access to telemedicine services and the majority of them are going to be the ones already using Medicare services in the US. This will help reduce medical spending up to a large extent. It will make getting a digital doctor into their homes a very simple task.

Simplification Of Remote Patient Management

Remote patient monitoring is very essential for elderly patients or differently abled individuals who find it difficult to commute to a hospital due to their chronic conditions. It is also a valuable tool for various doctors and physicians as it will give them the essential insights required to create a treatment plan without wasting critical time and incurring any costs.

Investment In Telemedicine By Other Countries

China is about to invest $9.47 billion to digitize its healthcare system. Therefore, it is wise to say that the US is not the only country that is implementing a massive telehealth system that is going to cover nearly all its citizens. Connectivity offered through telemedicine and telehealth platforms also enhances regional connectivity within the country which is going to further simplify and speed up health care for everyone.

5G Mobile Internet Technology To Catapult Telehealth And Medicine To Newer Heights

5G trials have already begun! This upgrade is going to provide faster data transfers and the connection between patients and doctors is going to become stronger. Conducting delicate robot-assisted operations and surgeries will become easier for surgeons and will make this practice more commonplace.

Enhanced Cyber Security

As telehealth and telemedicine moves into the advanced digital era, cyber security will become an even bigger challenge. Robust and all-encompassing measures will have to be taken to protect the medical records and information of everyone connected to these platforms. A separate IT cell and cyber security teams will have to be set up to maintain a vacuum-like security of all physician and patient related data.

But What Seems To Be Driving The Overwhelming Demand For Telemedicine And Telehealth In The US And Across The Globe?

Following are the reasons for this monumental growth of telemedicine in the US and in several other countries:

More than 50% of all US hospitals have a telemedicine program in place already. According to an independent study, the global telemedicine technology market is valued at $17.8 billion and is expected to grow at more than 18.4% compound annual growth rate by the year 2020 ends.
89% of healthcare executives that were surveyed have expressed their consent upon their organizations already developing and implementing telemedicine programs.
A whopping 84% of healthcare executives feel that development of telemedicine services is extremely important to their organization.
At the moment telemedicine makes for more than one fourth of the health information technology market which is going to exceed the $20 billion mark by the end of the year 2020 with a compound annual growth rate of 4.8%.
When it comes to patient opinion, 83% of patients in the US are ready to use telehealth services.
67% of patients in the country are comfortable with the thought of their health records being security available on the leading cloud technologies.
82% of patients surveyed expressed more concern about the quality and access with regards to healthcare than any need for human interactions with the concerned healthcare provider.
71% of patients have already said that using telemedicine has significantly increased their satisfaction level with regards to medical care of practically all kinds.
The undisputed benefits of telemedicine have about 55% of respondents excited to use these tools for the very first time in order to fill in the gaps in the current healthcare system.
83% of all doctor visits, emergency room visits and urgent care appointments are either unnecessary or could be handled remotely and safely with the help of a telemedicine program.
More than 63 % of patients have agreed that use of telemedicine platforms has significantly increased their involvement in their healthcare and treatment / medication decisions.

In The End, What You Should Consider Telemedicine software / medical app development solutions are gaining popularity and importance for some very strong reasons just as stated above. If you are a reputable health care organization / hospital and want to excel at providing the leading healthcare services to your patients, investing in a reliable telemedicine system / telemedicine & telehealth software could be the right path to take. Getting your very own custom telemedicine solution designed and developed could be the best decision you make for your healthcare organization.