What is Telehealth?

Introduction

The Internet has transformed our lives. A statement that is beginning to sound cliché, but amazingly, keeps getting validated every day in one way or another. Today, in this discussion, we explain how this digital transformation has brought about a revolution in the healthcare system. If you are a novice to the telehealth field, this is one article that you must read. There is a wide array of digital tools and platforms that you must be aware of. These tools and platforms are helping people access healthcare facilities differently all around the world, why should you not?

What is telehealth?

The simplest way to describe telehealth would be the exchange of medical information from one location to another. But in reality, telehealth accounts for much more than this rather simplistic definition. Using digital information and modern-day communication methods for accessing or providing healthcare services is what we can call a more elaborate definition of this concept. Who uses these technologies? It can be you, your doctor, or two doctors discussing your case using these communication platforms.

If you suffer from a particular condition, say diabetes, telehealth can help you in more ways than you can imagine. You can update your sugar status on a webpage or blog for evaluation by your doctor. Then, you can a watch video recommended by your doctor that tells you how to control your carbohydrate intake. You might have given your samples for testing, you can check their status on an online portal. You can have face to face sessions with your doctor through virtual conferencing software as well. And it is hardly all. There is so much more to telehealth, we cannot even enlist all in this limited space.

Virtual appointments

We wanted to elaborate the bit about virtual appointments, given how everyone hasn’t been able to leave their homes because of COVID-19. The video conferencing based consultation is one of the best ways to consult a doctor or manage a patient in case it is a doctor reading these lines. It is just not the doctors you can consult. The nursing staff that has been monitoring your situation can also get involved in this process. They can ask you questions and evaluate your health status, based on your responses. Remember that in case of an ailment of serious nature, you will still have to go to a clinic or see your doctor in person.

Electronic health records (EHR)

This is a big leap in the status of healthcare record-keeping. We have seen that major mishaps occur frequently when we rely on paperwork all the time. Compare that to an electronic healthcare record, where all of your information is stored digitally. The best bit about EHR is that you can access it anytime you like. You do not have to visit a clinic’s record-keeping office or fill tedious forms. Everything is one click away from you. EHRs are an important feature of telehealth.

Transparent Hands & telehealth

Many NGOs are offering telehealth facilities currently. One such organization is Transparent Hands.

Transparent Hands is the largest technological platform for crowdfunding in the healthcare sector of Pakistan. It offers a complete range of free healthcare services including medical and surgical treatments, medical camps, and telehealth facilities to the underprivileged community of Pakistan. The platform provides visibility to underprivileged patients and builds a personal and trusted bond between patients and donors while ensuring complete transparency. It also sets up free medical camps in the rural areas of Pakistan in which, free medical consultation, free medicines, and free diagnostic tests are provided to the deserving patients. Donors from all over the world can use the Transparent Hands crowdfunding web portal and donate through 100% secure payment modes. They could select any patient, fund the treatment, and receive regular feedback and updates until the patient has recovered completely.

Evaluation of telehealth potential

With more and more physicians realizing the value of telehealth services, one can be confident about the bright future of telehealth in the healthcare sector. We have already uttered the cliché words at the very beginning of this discussion, but let us reiterate them once more. Advanced technology, when combined with internet connectivity, has the potential to transform healthcare set up completely. Accessing healthcare services through a telephone, a laptop or even a smartphone seems to be the future of healthcare services. The limitations seem to be primary but the future seems to be bright!