The enormous advancement in videoconferencing technology

The enormous advancement in videoconferencing technology

The enormous advancement in videoconferencing technology over the last few years has made it possible for people to access this technology via PCs, smartphones, and tablets, something that was not possible after it went live. This technology has gone viral and is slowly replacing the routine patient visits to a physician in the health sector. Most people are now ditching regular visits for virtual visits due to the convenience it offers. Even though there are a few complications associated with virtual visits, such as lack of confidentiality in patients’ medical information, patients are still embracing this technology in large numbers.

Note that virtual visits cannot match what a doctor can do in-person. The good thing about virtual doctor’s visits is that they are time-saving. One does not have to travel and wait for a couple of minutes in the waiting room to see a doctor, thus saving time.

Let’s look at the benefits of virtual doctor visits.

Convenience

Virtual doctor visits are convenient in that they can be accessed from anywhere and at any time of the day, making it the fastest way to access medical services.

Even though virtual visits are not recommended for serious health issues, they are suitable for straightforward health concerns such as strains, cold, allergies, and many more.

In most cases, your physician can instantly access your symptoms and respond to questions regarding antibiotics and any other medication. However, if you require additional care, your doctor can save you time by booking an appointment with the office.

Time-Saving

By signing in to a telemedicine system with the help of your smartphone or tablet, you can quickly access medical services in a matter of minutes rather than hours. By using your smartphone or tablet, you can video call your physician and talk to him about your health concerns without necessarily leaving your job and driving to his office.

Besides saving time on in-person visits, virtual visits exempt you from spending additional time in the waiting room. This also ensures that you’re not exposed to diseases from other patients.

Privacy

Any system supporting virtual visits has to abide by all HIPAA guidelines and ensure the privacy of the patient’s medical information is maintained as it is the case with in-person visits.

Affordability

Virtual visits are more affordable than in-person appointments. This is because insurance covers such visits more often because they are quite affordable than in-person visits. With virtual visits, the number of appointments is significantly reduced, making it less expensive.

Increased Patient’s Engagement

Apart from letting patients and doctors see each other face to face, videoconferencing allows doctors to bring up a patient’s record and highlight areas of concern with a virtual pen during the interaction. This enables the doctors to explain specific visuals to their patients. During a virtual visit, a doctor can measure a patient’s blood pressure, listen to heartbeat, and even examine the patient’s ear via a conned otoscope, among other devices.

This is an area where a virtual visit does better than an in-person visit. For instance, the otoscope results show up on the patient’s monitor as well as that of the doctor, letting the patient view the inner part of his ear in real-time. This makes it easy for ta doctor to discuss with the patient about the condition of his ear and the necessary that should be taken.