How Can Telemedicine Bridge the Gap?

Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technology to provide clinical services directly to the patient rather than through a health care facility like a doctor’s office or hospital. Telemedicine is sometimes used to extend healthcare services to rural and remote areas, where access to care is currently lacking. Telemedicine is also used to keep patients up-to-date with their medical diagnoses and treatment results, as well as their condition monitoring and follow up exams. Telemedicine has been used for a variety of healthcare services, including remote patient monitoring, virtual consultation, and video-conferencing.

The goals of telemedicine include improving the quality of health care, making it more accessible to underserved populations, and improving the cost-effectiveness of health care, often by reducing the unnecessary use of expensive in-person visits to the doctor. Telemedicine can be used to provide medical care virtually in the same way that people receive care when they go to a doctor’s office, with the goal of addressing the patient’s medical needs and health concerns from the comfort of their home.

Telemedicine provides a myriad of benefits over traditional in-office visits, some of which include:

– Lower Cost — Doctors and therapists can be expensive, even for people with good medical coverage. Telemedicine appointments typically cost less than in-person visits do, which can help reduce out-of-pocket costs and remove a barrier to care.

– Easy Access to Specialists — Primary care physicians can provide us with all of our common medical needs, but sometimes complex conditions require the expertise of a specialist. Telemedicine improves access to these specialists, allowing more people to receive the care they need, wherever they are.

– Medical Access for People in Rural Areas — Country living has many advantages, but fast access to medical care is not always amongst them. Telemedicine provides a way to meet with a doctor quickly for people who live many miles from the nearest medical facility.

Other benefits include:

– No need for childcare
– Reduced medical overhead costs
– Support for people with chronic conditions
– Physical therapy at home

Telemedicine is a highly advantageous medium of medical care and is relatively easy to set up and get started with. First, a smartphone, tablet or computer (either desktop or laptop) is required, along with a reliable internet connection; this is especially crucial for video conferences. A webcam, such as a front-facing camera on a tablet or smartphone, is required for video calling. These are the basic requirements for taking part in telemedicine, the next step is to make an appointment with the clinic. The exact protocols and procedures vary per clinic; they will likely provide step-by-step instructions for how to login to the online portal and meet with the virtual physician.

If you are looking for quality and trusted telemedicine services for your Sleep needs, the team at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders can help. We partner with sleep physicians who provide telemedicine for your initial face to face encounter. If a sleep study is warranted, you may be able to use an at home sleep study that will be shipped to you for use in your familiar surroundings. Once returned, the sleep physician will do another telemedicine visit with you to discuss your results. From there, treatment will be prescribed that may include oral appliance therapy. Call us today to book an appointment with our qualified team, or visit one of our locations: We serve patients from all across the United States.