The past year has seen the rise in telehealth services. While telehealth has existed for quite some time, it has only been in the past year that it really has risen to prominence. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the entire planet to reconsider how to offer the same types of everyday services without human contact. Telemedicine was the perfect solution. Telehealth is a virtual doctor’s appointment in which a doctor will video call with a patient. In theory, patients will be getting the same level of care and attention they would be receiving if they were in the doctor’s office. These types of appointments are great for certain types of doctors appointments like medication refills and behavioral health appointments. A primary care doctor could also clear someone for certain types of check-ups and physical exams.
If a person is practicing social distancing measures or is at risk of infecting others in quarantine, these visits can help keep your practice safe for others who need to come into the office for their appointments that can not happen over the phone or video call. Now, as the pandemic is starting to come to a close and people are becoming more active out in the community again, the question of where telehealth medicine will fit into regular care routines moving forward.
We believe that telemedicine is here to stay. It is too convenient and handy for both patients and providers alike to get rid of. Say that you are a patient who searches “primary care baltimore”, but they are out of Baltimore for whatever reason, they could see the provider at that location from wherever they are. Many people travel for work or have to leave town suddenly for family reasons. By offering telehealth at your practice, this saves your patients the trouble of needing to reschedule appointments if something were to come up and conflict with their appointment. The regularly scheduled appointment could happen as planned. However, the appointment would play out via a computer, tablet, or smartphone screen instead of in person.
Of course, there are certain instances where virtual visits are not appropriate. Should your patient need to provide a sample or need a thorough examination (an example of this could be a pap smear or prostate exam). In these instances, patients will still need to be physically present at the primary care office. This also extends to emergency situations or injuries. It would be unreasonable to expect a person with a broken limb, for example, to see a doctor about via telehealth. However, for a checkup or physical therapy appointment once the bone has been reset – telehealth could be an option.
Many doctors offices offer after hours services. In some instances, primary care doctors will take urgent medical calls from their patients from their homes after regular business hours. Telehealth has great possibility to help out in these types of situations. A doctor can do an examination from their own home without having to leave in the middle of the night. This solution is a great compromise for both patient and provider. The patient gets seen and the provider is not overly inconvenienced.
Overall, there are a lot of benefits to using telehealth services. For the most part, the overarching theme of those benefits is that it offers convenience for everyone involved. If you are considering adding telehealth services to your practice, it can be a great selling point for prospective new patients. Not only does it help attract new patients and help grow your practice, telehealth services can enhance the patient experience for your current clientele list. For a practice to grow, it needs a list of happy current patients and a steady flow of new patients. Telehealth services can help you grow your practice on both fronts. There are plenty of great telehealth programs and providers to choose from. Simply do a bit of research on pricing and features that work for best for your budget and practice needs.
