Telemedicine is a form of telehealth. It is focused on delivering healthcare services designed in a similar manner to conventional doctor-patient office visits, but in a remote format using digital telecommunications systems. The terms telehealth and telemedicine are often used interchangeably, but they can vary based on the kind of clinician involved and the nature of services offered. While telemedicine services are mostly provided by physicians, telehealth services can be offered by any healthcare provider. 

Telehealth Provides Access to Quality Medical Care No Matter Where You Are 

Telehealth connects you to vital healthcare services using the following technology systems: 

• Videoconferencing 
• Wireless communications 
• Remote monitoring 
• Electronic consults 

Telehealth helps increase your access to physicians and specialists, ensuring that you receive proper care from anywhere. It involves a wide range of digital healthcare services. This solution is being implemented by both large and small healthcare systems and independent practices in different situations such as: 

• When using remote patient monitoring for conditions such as hypertension and/or diabetes 
• When offering mental health or addiction healthcare services such as teletherapy 
• When providing virtual visits via real-time video conferencing or telemedicine 

Telemedicine Improves Access to Care 

The rise of telemedicine during the Covid-19 pandemic era has been a positive development in the medical field. Telemedicine has helped increase access to healthcare for patients facing barriers such as: 

• Distance 
• Transportation 
• Availability of caretaker  

Patients who used to wait for months to be able to see a specialist in their location can now have access to a variety of specialists anywhere in the U.S. or the world. This means they get seen sooner. Even if a patient unintentionally misses their appointment due to any reason, a medical doctor can still provide quality care to them with the help of telemedicine. This can be done without the need for rescheduling, thus offering the following benefits: 

• Decreasing missed opportunities 
• Increasing clinic efficiency 

Telemedicine has been proven for its capability to improve access for patient populations living in remote locations, such as rural areas. In some medical conditions, it has been proven to improve health outcomes while reducing costs. 

Telehealth has been increasingly used for improving and expanding access to rural healthcare. Many patients across remote areas face challenges that limit their access to high-quality medical care. For example, those living in a small town may have only a few primary care providers in their area. A primary care physician may be just enough for taking care of their annual exams or flu care needs. However, when patients need treatment for more complex conditions, they will need to see a specialist. This could mean that they have to commute for hours to get the necessary care. 

This is where telehealth is helping. It relies on digital communication technologies to assist clinicians to provide quality healthcare services remotely. This helps patients, located anywhere, to save both time and money that would otherwise be spent on transportation.  

Besides real-time virtual visits through video conferencing, it can also assist patients in remote areas to attend: 

• Seminars 
• Peer support meetings 
• Various beneficial programs 

And all this can be done without having to leave their home or work. 

Telemedicine Eliminates Waiting Room Time 

When you choose tele-visit via telemedicine technology, you will no longer have to spend all the time looking at magazines in a doctor’s office. Some of the relevant advantages include: 

• No Need to Take Time Off Work: Telemedicine eliminates the need to take time off your work. The visit can be scheduled before or after work or during a break. You can take the call from a place that offers all the privacy you need. You will be able to take the follow-up instructions and maintain health without the need to miss work or waste your paid time.  
• On-Demand Options: An increasing number of Family Practice Las Vegas now offer telemedicine. This increases the chance of seeing your regular doctor via this mode. There are also many on-demand and online-only options out there. They can handle a wide range of healthcare problems. Some Insurances Las Vegas also pay for such type of care. 

Telemedicine Eliminates Risks of Exposure 

Telemedicine also reduces the chance of catching a new illness. A doctor’s office is a place where you can find a lot of people with different kinds of sickness. While everyone makes an effort to prevent others from catching an infection, the chances of transmitting diseases are high. When you stay home and get all the care you need, you are able to avoid getting exposed to diseases or passing your disease to someone else. Besides, telemedicine helps prevent immunocompromised patients risk getting infectious diseases. 

If you want to make the most of the benefits of Telemedicine in Las Vegas, feel free to contact Family Doctors Medical Center. You can reach us at 702.616.9471 or write to us.