Since the corona infection
began to spread, people all over the world have been advised to stay at home.
They have been working from home as there is high risk of infection and no one
can predict who is safe and who is in danger. Even the healthcare providers,
who are the lifesavers, are at high risk and due to spread of infection,
patients other than those suffering from corona, have been warned to stay home
and seek doctor’s advice online rather than visiting the clinics or hospitals.
It was found that during the
lockdown, telemedicine was embraced like never before; people who never liked
the concept of talking to their doctor on the phone or meeting on video
conferencing or messaging were now ready to consult their healthcare providers
online. As the coronavirus cases continue to surge, the doctors and the
healthcare system all over the world race to adopt virtual treatment approaches
that help to reduce the need for physical meetings between the patients and
doctors and meet on a digital platform, from the safety of their homes and
offices.
How virtual healthcare has
helped healthcare sector during coronavirus
With help of advanced
technology, doctors were able to see up to hundred patients a day during the
outbreak which is a significant development as the number of patients using
telemedicine was very low up till now. To make it even more effective and
result-oriented, the governments are also trying to come up with better and
user-friendly applications that make use of instant messaging platforms such as
WhatsApp that make virtual healthcare even more operational and useful. Now it covers
a full suite of virtual healthcare services that include public messaging about
behavioral modifications, epidemiological tracing and swift as well as easy
access to virtual healthcare providers in time of need.
As the use of mobile phones or
rather smartphones is inevitable these days, the technological barriers to the
adaptation of virtual healthcare is easy to manage, even in locations where
resources are scarce and patients faced problems in accessing the doctor online
previously. The virtual intercom communication
systems provides healthcare specialists a chance to monitor and remain
connected with their patients over video screens from anywhere in the hospital.
With this, the patients are also able to see a human face when all other
personal contact is prohibited and they cannot share their problems any other
way.
Virtual healthcare played a
key role during the COVID-19 pandemic; not only it highlighted the value of
technology for preventing such contagious diseases but also defined the significance
of telehealth and how it can help patients as well as caregivers in maintaining
a healthy society.
As the pandemic increased the
need of isolation for patients, it meant more and more people were quarantined
in their homes due to lack of space in the hospitals as well as fear of
infection. During this time, it was with help of virtual healthcare and remote
patient monitoring that doctors and specialists remained connected with their
patients and kept on delivering quality care online, minimizing risk to
patients and the staff.
By collapsing the barriers of
time and distance, virtual healthcare is the best means for seeking low cost,
patient centered care that is most convenient and it continues to become more
productive when combined with technology especially in times like a pandemic. Experts
have been quick to point out how the technology utilized during the COVID-19
can be used for helping with outdated methods of healthcare delivery and come
up with new and improved ways for patient health.
By observing the role of virtual healthcare Oregon
during the coronavirus and how it helped to manage things during the worst of
times, it would not be wrong to say that healthcare system will be undergoing a
massive change in the near future and more people will be able to enjoy better
health outcomes with help of technology based medical assistance.