How can seniors continue to get healthcare on self-isolation?
You’re probably worrying about how you can continue getting medical treatments, a scheduled surgery, or routine checkup when almost everything is shut-down. Governments worldwide implemented different lockdown strategies to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
This is why you should consider telehealth. A current solution that could be the future of healthcare.
What is telehealth?
Telehealth is the distribution of health-related services and information via electronic information and telecommunication technologies. It allows long-distance patient and clinician contact, care, advice, reminders, education, intervention, monitoring, and remote admissions (source: Wikipedia)
The Australian Medical Association (AMA), says, “Under normal circumstances, it can considerably enhance access to doc (GP) services for specific patient groups including patients in aged care. It complements but doesn’t replace face to face patient consultations.
“However, in these extreme circumstances of an epidemic, telehealth is often a very efficient mode of provision of look after older patients and people residing in aged care facilities. It can reduce unnecessary visits to aged care facilities by doctors or unnecessary patient transfers to hospitals and thereby reduce the probabilities for transmission.
“GPs who are already overwhelmed by providing services for patients in their clinics can provide look after their patients in aged care by telephone or video consultations, speak to the nurses working in aged care facilities and supply relevant medical advice on a way to proceed with the treatment of these patients.“
People eligible to use the telehealth service include people aged over 70, people with chronic diseases, Aboriginal and sound Islander people aged over 50, and folks who are immunocompromised.
How can telehealth work for older people?
Telehealth holds great potential for helping seniors looking to take care of their independence and revel in living reception longer. It offers a variety of options to create healthcare easier and more accessible. From tracking vital signs with remote monitoring devices to communicating easily with a nurse through an internet portal to receiving on-the-spot care from a doctor via video chat, telehealth aims to create life easier. If you’re trying to find some way to feel more peace of mind without yield your self-sufficiency, this field is certainly worth a glance.
Benefits Of telehealth for seniors
Telehealth boasts many potential benefits:
- Making healthcare more cost-effective and increasing accessibility. For a senior, chatting with a provider through an app is also easier than visiting their office, and it’ll likely cost less.
- Also, it should help doctors provide better care. as an example, family doctors are also ready to consult a specialist in real-time by sending an image or set of information. This helps you because the patient eliminates the unnecessary wait time of scheduling another appointment and making another trip.
- Telehealth may additionally provide comfort and security for seniors who live alone. If a caregiver has to ask their doctor a matter, they’ll now do so just by sending a message through an online portal, instead of awaiting the subsequent appointment. it should also help the caregiver communicate more easily, bringing both the caregiver and patient more peace of mind.
- Telehealth may also help bridge gaps in care. A patient who’s traveling can more easily access their provider through telemedicine or an online portal. It can help rural patients receive care whether or not they live an extended distance from the closest doctor. it should also relieve a number of the burden of providing transportation to and from the doctor’s office for both patients and caregivers. (source: Ageing in Place)
Any cons of telehealth we should be aware of?
Even though telehealth is usually more convenient, some seniors may prefer a standard visit to the doctor. In some situations, providers insist that an in-office visit is that the best thanks to diagnosing and treating illnesses. For this reason, telehealth is usually best used as a supplement to in-person healthcare, instead of a replacement.
Many critics argue that telehealth may negatively impact the continuity of care. Continuity of care means engaging during a long-term partnership together with your primary doctor so they know your entire health history and therefore the full spectrum of your health issues. Receiving care from an unfamiliar doctor through a video app might not be a long-term solution for managing chronic health problems. additionally, these apps leave the patient with the responsibility for reporting this interaction to their primary doctor.
Telehealth services might also vary in cost. While the telehealth industry ideally makes healthcare more cost-effective, there could also be hidden costs worth looking into. Before employing a telehealth service, always check to determine if there’s a convenience fee. Also, confirm that your insurance company covers telehealth services.
The cost of using telemedicine might also affect doctors. Incorporating telemedicine services may require buying new equipment, and there are no thanks to making sure that your medical aid provider will favor participating during this emerging market.
Because telehealth is such a replacement field, there’s also limited data on its effectiveness as compared to traditional medicine. For this reason, if you’re considering telehealth, it’s going to be best used as a complement to your usual healthcare routine, instead of a replacement.
