THE BENEFITS OF TELEMEDICINE
Access to health information is something you might take for granted. A call to the family doctor could yield answers to your routine health questions, and an emergency room is a short drive away when more serious medical issues arise. Meanwhile, rapid advances in clinical technology and communication put access to health care solutions at your fingertips.
Telemedicine services have been available to consumers for decades. Modern telemedicine takes place in real-time interactions between doctor and patient; in the storage and transfer of clinical images and videos; and by virtual visits conducted through a patient’s video-enabled computer, smartphone, or tablet. Interest in telemedicine from patients is increasing; a 2015 survey reported 75 percent of patients who didn’t use virtual medical services would like to use a telemedicine service in lieu of an in-person office visit.
Many medical providers offer telemedicine services, including major regional hospitals and facilities that provide urgent care in Gainesville, GA. The benefits to you of access to telemedicine are worth taking a look at.
Wider Patient Access
The Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine cites one study that estimates 59 million Americans live in primarily rural and urban areas that lack adequate access to health care facilities and staff. Patients who live in communities with a lack of primary care providers can benefit greatly from access to telemedicine services.
Telemedicine connects medical personnel and urgent care services to patients that lack reliable transportation or may be too ill to travel for the diagnosis and consultation they would receive in a traditional face-to-face visit from a health care provider. Telemedicine solutions enable more people that live in locations where medical providers are scarce to receive important, even life-saving health information.
Cost-Effective
Telemedicine is accessible to anyone with a high-speed internet connection and a compatible smartphone computer device. The virtual nature of telemedicine services can lead to cost savings to primary care providers and patients who request it. It reduces unnecessary office visits, emergency room trips, and costly admissions. It also improves patient engagement and lowers the financial impact from appointment no-shows.
Reimbursement for telemedicine services remains limited in many cases, but 39 states and the District of Columbia have laws concerning reimbursement or coverage of telemedicine services by private insurers. To patients with limited financial resources seeking access to health care and advice without delay, telemedicine is an option worth pursuing.
The Virtual Choice
The growth of telemedicine availability means patients seeking medical advice and juggling other responsibilities can fit a physician’s visit into their schedule. Telemedicine makes it possible for patients living in rural and urban communities to access the expertise of physicians and receive potentially life-saving health information without leaving their home.
Contact Us Today!
Lanier Urgent Care offers telemedicine services to patients who find it hard to schedule a visit to their urgent care clinic in Gainesville, GA, but who want to confer with a health care provider at a convenient time. Lanier Urgent Care is licensed to provide expert medical consultation to any patient within the state of Georgia. If you want to know more, visit our FAQ page or call us and a member of our team will gladly answer your questions.
