Why Telemedicine Is Booming And What’s Ahead

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a great catalyst to the adoption of Telemedicine across the world. True, it has been around for a while and had seen growth before the pandemic as well. On average, however, people used to take a day off and go visit the doctor’s office personally, instead of setting up their phone or PC for an online visit. Clinics and medical facilities continue to decrease the potential exposure of patients to COVID-19, and thus, the full capacity will not return to its previous levels any time soon, even with the vaccines being slowly distributed around.

Because of all this, Telemedicine has seen an explosion of new healthcare services and providers on the market. It has become essential for both primary and urgent medical services, ranging from standard checkups and up to emergency situations and chronic disease monitoring. The Telehealth industry on the whole has seen more growth in that last year than in the previous decade.

The question is, however, what are the factors that contribute to its growth now? What will happen to it once the pandemic finally comes to a close? Let’s see.

The Future of Telemedicine

The growth of Telemedicine’s adoption across the world doesn’t stop. New emerging technologies are finding their way to the consumer market, further increasing Telemedicine’s availability and significance for many types of patients. This point is multiplied in magnitude for patients with chronic diseases or in remote areas. Not everyone can reliably make the trip to the doctor’s office, after all.

Telemedicine, has a number of advantages important to both doctors and patients, regardless of the current pandemic situation in the world:

• Ease of access: distance, lack of insurance, lockdowns, all put a strain on an individual’s ability to receive care. With Telemedicine, care can be received nearly instantly and in just about any field of practice.
• Convenience: patients don’t need to drive, or spend time in the waiting rooms. Your doctor can be on the screen of your mobile phone, wherever you are (so long as there is an internet connection, of course)
• Safety: 2020 marked an interesting dynamic: the influenza season during fall hasn’t happened at all. Staying at home and safe does have an impact on a person’s health, and the less exposure to viruses, the better – especially for chronically ill and elderly patients.

There is more to why Telemedicine continues to grow. Let’s learn together what will define Telemedicine’s role in our world in the future.

Telemedicine is becoming an industry standard

The necessary use of Telemedicine has been beneficial to its adoption globally. Patients, having tested it in real-case scenarios, find value in the benefits Telemedicine provides, and continue to use it later on. Why make the hike to the doctor’s office and wait for the check-in, when you can avoid it altogether?

What’s more, virtual visits are easier to conduct for both parties, and the no-show rate has dropped dramatically. The no-shows contribute greatly to a decrease in revenue to clinics and healthcare facilities, and Telehealth patients have fewer barriers or obstructions to making the doctor visit.

Telemedicine is more profitable to clinics and healthcare providers

Telemedicine healthcare providers and clinics enjoy revenue growth and will continue to have that. More and more patients are getting onboard and request to have remote screening and consultation options. More flexible insurance options and affordability of services help customers make the choice in favor of Telemedicine.

That is important to analyze for clinics that still do not provide Telemedicine services to their patients. The drop in revenue and shifting customer base can be perilous for the business in the long run. It’s important to make sure all available revenue sources are available to the institution in order for it to continue its growth and operation.

Telemedicine patients have more choice

Patients can choose their hospitals, healthcare providers, and individual doctors much more easily. Without having to deal with waiting times and not sometimes not knowing who will be the doctor that will see them, patients enjoy the newfound opportunity to build connections with the doctors they like better and make repeat visits to the same service and doctors.

Again, institutions that choose not to provide healthcare virtually may suffer from lower volumes of patients. Competitive healthcare providers with Telemedicine capabilities will simply occupy their part of the patient base. After all, it is the patient’s convenience and wallet that dictates the popularity of the clinic or service. If you can cater to both, you will have good business.

Telemedicine is great for preventative healthcare

A lot of patients spend money to treat chronic illnesses that could be otherwise prevented or kept in check without progressing further. Quick and convenient access to getting a diagnosis, care, and treatment, ensure fewer complications, inpatient stays, and reduced costs for the patient.

Specialized doctors are more accessible

A wide range of healthcare specialists can now receive patients from anywhere, so long as there is an internet connection. This is a great way to improve customer experience and lift the need require a professional to be on-site full-time (though it’s helpful, in some cases, to have both)

Think of it – previously, you would receive a direction to visit a different doctor. Now, you can have that doctor join the online consultation and provide help immediately.

Conclusion

It’s hard to say when the COVID-19 pandemic will finally be over, and will the world we live in be the same as it was before it took place. A sure thing is that patients, doctors, and healthcare providers have become accustomed to using Telehealth services, and will continue to do so. The demand for it will only continue to grow. If you are just considering to start providing online Telehealth services, the best time to start is now.

Interested in learning more about the details of getting a Telemedicine platform for your healthcare solution? Let us know and we’ll provide you with a free consultation.

Interested in learning more about the details of getting a Telemedicine platform for your healthcare solution? You can take a look at our telemedicine software development cases and let us know to provide you with a free consultation.