Over the past two decades, technology has advanced at an extremely rapid pace. And no industry has remained untouched.
Did you ever hope that there would be instant communication between people living on opposite ends of the world?
But isn’t that the reality of today?
Technological advancements have managed to blur the lines when it comes to bridging distances. Many times business professionals conduct meetings and manage their companies virtually without being physically present.
There is little doubt that the healthcare industry has flourished due to the application of technology. Imagine you are at home and extremely unwell, but your doctor is out of town. Wouldn’t it be useful if you could contact your doctor and he could provide a virtual diagnosis, thereby alleviating your discomfort?
Telemedicine is the use of technology by healthcare providers to evaluate and provide a diagnosis to patients virtually with the use of computers and other telecommunication devices. Telemedicine has an allure that cannot be denied — especially in rural areas where the cost of setting up clinics or hospitals is considerably high comparatively.
One of the earliest records of telemedicine available is from the first half of the 20th century where Electrocardiogram (ECG) was transmitted over telephone lines. Although there are many modes of communication available today, telephones still have the most extensive reach. The majority of countries have utilised this and have dedicated phone lines specifically for ambulances and swift healthcare.
Telemedicine can be used to utilise healthcare providers time usefully. Oftentimes, there may be a lack of patients in a hospital or clinic due to some reason or another. Telemedicine technology can be used at this time by healthcare providers to assist their patients to their full capacity.
It is not easy going through operative procedures. There is always a lingering discomfort for a few days after. During such times, having a healthcare provider monitor your vitals remotely with easy access through communication devices, is extremely helpful to the patients. Not only does this assist in making the post-operative follow-ups efficient, but it also reduces hospital readmissions due to complications. As good advice and support from their healthcare providers are available at the click of a button, the need to visit the hospital for any questions or follow-ups reduces significantly.
Many times, patients may get intimidated or scared of hospitals, and this may lead to them hiding many symptoms to leave faster. With the help of telemedicine, the patients can speak to the healthcare providers from the comfort and safety of their own home. After the telecommunication, if the need arises, the patients may schedule an appointment at the hospital for further care. Not only does this boost patient satisfaction, but it also creates a positive engagement between patients and healthcare providers.
Telemedicine ensures connectivity between patients and their healthcare providers. Even if the patient is admitted to a hospital, during off-hours if any queries or issues crop up, the speed with which they are communicated to the healthcare providers is vital. Using wireless technology and remote monitoring software, healthcare providers can keep an eye on their patients. Their quick response has a positive effect on the patients, thereby increasing the odds of the hospital retaining them.
Fitness has now become almost a lifestyle trend — especially the use of activity trackers. Millennials especially, like to post videos and photos of their fitness regimes on their social media pages. With medical records, health records, patient data, and laboratory information being stored electronically, information is readily available to healthcare providers at the tip of their fingers. Records from healthcare websites integrated into fitness trackers along with other electronic records can help doctors in making informed decisions regarding any speciality healthcare required by patients.
Indian healthcare providers must realize the role that telemedicine can play in making the medical industry in India globally recognized. Not only will telemedicine improve the relationship between healthcare providers and their patients, but it will also ensure that healthcare is available to every individual regardless of where they stay in the country.
Katika miongo miwili iliyopita, teknolojia imeendelea kwa kasi sana. Na hakuna sekta yoyote ambayo haijaathiriwa. Je, umewahi kutarajia kwamba kutakuwa na mawasiliano ya papo hapo kati ya watu wanaoishi katika ncha tofauti za ulimwengu? Lakini je, hilo si jambo halisi leo? Maendeleo ya kiteknolojia yamefaulu kuficha mipaka inapohusu kuunganisha umbali. Mara nyingi wataalamu wa biashara hufanya mikutano na kusimamia makampuni yao bila kuwapo kimwili. Hakuna shaka kwamba sekta ya huduma za afya imefanikiwa kwa sababu ya matumizi ya teknolojia. Hebu wazia wewe uko nyumbani na unaugua sana, lakini daktari wako yuko nje ya mji. Je, halingekuwa jambo la manufaa ikiwa ungeweza kuwasiliana na daktari wako na aweze kukupa utambuzi wa kimapenzi, na hivyo kupunguza usumbufu wako? Telemedicine ni matumizi ya teknolojia na watoa huduma za afya kutathmini na kutoa utambuzi kwa wagonjwa karibu na matumizi ya kompyuta na vifaa vingine vya mawasiliano ya simu. Telemedicine ina kuvutia ambayo haiwezi kukataliwa <unk> hasa katika maeneo ya vijijini ambapo gharama ya kuanzisha kliniki au hospitali ni kubwa sana kwa kulinganisha. Telehealth ni mfumo wa matibabu ya mbali uliopo tangu karne ya 20 ambapo ECG ilianza kutumika katika matibabu ya simu. Ingawa kuna njia nyingi za mawasiliano zinazopatikana leo, simu bado ndizo zinazotumiwa sana. Nchi nyingi zimetumia hii na zina mistari ya simu iliyojitolea haswa kwa magari ya wagonjwa na huduma ya afya ya haraka. Telemedicine inaweza kutumika kutumia muda wa watoa huduma za afya kwa manufaa. Mara nyingi, huenda kukawa na uhaba wa wagonjwa katika hospitali au kliniki kwa sababu fulani au nyingine. Teknolojia ya telemedicine inaweza kutumika kwa sasa na watoa huduma za afya kusaidia wagonjwa wao kwa uwezo wao kamili. Si rahisi kupitia taratibu za upasuaji. Sikuzote kuna hali mbaya ya kutoweza kujisikia vizuri kwa siku chache baada ya hapo. Wakati wa nyakati kama hizo, kuwa na mtoa huduma ya afya kufuatilia vitals yako kwa mbali na upatikanaji rahisi kupitia vifaa vya mawasiliano, ni muhimu sana kwa wagonjwa. Hii sio tu husaidia katika kufanya kufuatilia baada ya upasuaji ufanisi, lakini pia hupunguza re-upatikanaji wa hospitali kutokana na matatizo. Kwa kuwa ushauri mzuri na msaada kutoka kwa watoa huduma zao za afya unapatikana kwa kubonyeza kitufe, hitaji la kutembelea hospitali kwa maswali yoyote au ufuatiliaji hupungua kwa kiasi kikubwa. Mara nyingi wagonjwa huogopa hospitali na hivyo huficha dalili zao ili kuondoka. Kwa msaada wa telemedicine, wagonjwa wanaweza kuzungumza na watoa huduma za afya kutoka kwa faraja na usalama wa nyumba yao wenyewe. Baada ya mawasiliano ya simu, ikiwa kuna uhitaji, wagonjwa wanaweza kupanga miadi katika hospitali kwa ajili ya utunzaji zaidi. Hii sio tu inaongeza kuridhika kwa mgonjwa, lakini pia huunda ushiriki mzuri kati ya wagonjwa na watoa huduma za afya. Telemedicine inahakikisha muunganisho kati ya wagonjwa na watoa huduma zao za afya. Hata kama mgonjwa ni kulazwa katika hospitali, wakati wa masaa ya nje, kama maswali yoyote au masuala kutokea, kasi ambayo wao ni kuwasiliana na watoa huduma za afya ni muhimu. Kwa kutumia teknolojia ya wireless na programu ya ufuatiliaji wa mbali, watoa huduma za afya wanaweza kuwaangalia wagonjwa wao. Jibu lao la haraka huwa na matokeo mazuri kwa wagonjwa, na hivyo kuongeza uwezekano wa hospitali kuwaweka. Fitness sasa imekuwa karibu mtindo wa maisha mwenendo <unk> hasa matumizi ya tracker shughuli. Millennials hasa, kama kuchapisha video na picha ya mifumo yao ya mazoezi ya mwili juu ya kurasa zao za mitandao ya kijamii. Kwa kuwa rekodi za matibabu, rekodi za afya, data za wagonjwa, na habari za maabara zimehifadhiwa kwa njia ya elektroniki, habari zinapatikana kwa urahisi kwa watoa huduma za afya kwa vidole vyao. Rekodi kutoka kwa tovuti za huduma za afya zilizounganishwa na vifaa vya kufuatilia afya pamoja na rekodi zingine za elektroniki zinaweza kusaidia madaktari kufanya maamuzi ya habari kuhusu huduma yoyote ya afya ya utaalam inayohitajika na wagonjwa. "Watoa huduma za afya wa India wanapaswa kutambua jukumu ambalo telemedicine inaweza kucheza katika kufanya tasnia ya matibabu nchini India itambuliwe ulimwenguni kote. """ Telemedicine haitaongeza tu uhusiano kati ya watoa huduma za afya na wagonjwa wao, lakini pia itahakikisha huduma za afya zinapatikana kwa kila mtu bila kujali mahali anapoishi nchini.