Telehealth for COVID 19: When Technology Come to Rescue

Countries all over the world are adopting measures of social distancing. People are encouraged not to visit hospitals especially when countries are under the lockdown mode.

So, what would the regular individual do in order to ensure that they are not bearing the symptoms of the dreaded Coronavirus?

The answer to this is healthcare technology in the form of telehealth applications. Telehealth by far has emerged as one of the strongest nominations for representing health at your doorstep concept. Its strength in ensuring people do a self-check at home rather than visiting health care centers and emergency wards has been forthcoming in these tough moments. These telehealth applications render your mobile phone as a powerful device as you can literally get a detailed health checkup done thanks to the technology.

More about Telehealth

The concept is very simple to understand. It is a piece of digital-age information application that encompasses all the aspects of ICT to provide top-notch health care by remote means. The primary objectives of telehealth applications in the midst of the virus are:

●     Patients with mild symptoms can get the best care from a medical specialist while isolation can take place at their homes without the need to visit.

●     With technology resolving all the complication, better coordination can be seen with the use of this application

●     Great measures preached for self-care during the crisis

How does it work?

It offers a wide range of technology tools including email, videoconferencing and high-tech video chat services. A simple mobile phone can ensure you get the best health care using technology tools. Prescriptions also can be sent by doctors to the local pharmacies directly via these health applications. Let us understand its working a bit more

Patient portal: It is quite possible that your primary health care clinic also has an online patient portal that is a great alternative to visiting the premises and taking the risk of infection. It is also considered a far more secure platform compared to the usual emails.

Virtual appointments: Virtual appointments also are a trend that has seen a surge where the patients can consult the doctor through a video conferencing session. Regular feedback is given by the doctors without the need for any personal visit. Web-based visits also are very common which can be used in the case for very minor illnesses. A series of questions are posed to the patients for whom they can provide answers and based on that the doctors would send a prescription.

Remote monitor control: Remote monitoring of health also has been a new trend and this is possible only with telehealth applications. Some of the most robust technologies include:

●     Devices that transmit information liberally

●     Home monitoring devices especially for the senile population as they are risk-prone

●     Wearable devices to record important information and basics of parameters

Under normal circumstances finding an appointment might not be difficult but with the bludgeoning of Coronavirus cases getting an appointment can be hugely difficult. People have to keep checking the websites and with the insurer in order to access telehealth services through its applications. Registration to these applications is a must as COVID-19 cases are keeping all health care professionals on their feet.

How emerging technologies are resonating digital transformation in healthcare

Health care and digital information go hand in hand. In today’s time AI-based medical devices, electronic health record systems functioning on blockchain technologies are a few examples of how emerging technologies are proving to be doctor’s pals. Let us take a look at these digital health tools and how they are creating an impact.

On-demand healthcare

Digital innovation is at its zenith and On-demand healthcare is one of the most innovative methods of ensuring everyone gets health consultation based on the time availability of people. People can now order a detailed health examination based on their time. Many healthcare companies have already started using this system to ensure they can adapt to the growing needs.

Big Data

Big Data has indeed come a long way in establishing its foothold. With big data come several other benefits like

●     Lessening of medication errors with a better patient record analysis. Even if there are anomalies it can be immediately traced and can be reported. Big data offers quick-fix measures as it helps in easy error detection.

●     Frequent flyers or those who visit the hospital more often can be easily identified with Big Data analytics. They can be intimated and warned not to visit the facility with the risk surrounding it.

●     Big Data also offers a predictive analysis that helps hospitals and clinics to understand what the future admissions rates are likely to be. This tool is extremely useful especially now when COVID-19 patients are likely to increase and the hospitals can fulfill their staffing needs in advance.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality offers a great option for health care professionals for treating complex issues. VR is currently considered a great alternative to the usual drugs as it is enabling doctors to resolve issues from as simple as stress to as complicated as strokes.

VR is even now helping doctors to create simulations for pre-hand preparation for complicated operations.

Inundation of wearable devices

Digital transformation has brought with it, the onslaught of wearable devices that are considered must for record-keeping and updates. People are now informed and want to do everything they can in order to ensure they take prevention measures. Companies are now actively investing in these devices that could go a long way in assimilating information on COVID-19 symptoms.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

With digital transformation, we have been continuously associating AI. Ever since the AI-powered tools have been the backbone of the healthcare industry. Chatbots and virtual assistants are considered a really effective tool that keeps people in regular communication with health officials resting their fears. Till now they have been very successful in exchanging information about symptoms, precautions and preventive measures that can be taken.

Blockchain technology for better health records

As we all know blockchain technology has been extremely effective because it has been discovered as an effective method for upkeep medical records. Digital versions of the patient’s medical history have reduced the burden of medical record keeping. Developed nations like the UK and the USA have already started implementing this and looking at ways to enhance this further. The decentralized computer networks that handle these blockchain blocks’ records are very easy to do and difficult to hack.

Future is bright for telehealth applications

The Healthcare industry will benefit a lot from these qualitative measures. Everyone deserves good medical care and with these applications, even those who do not have access to medical care can avail as smartphones are owned by a vast majority of the population. There is a huge increase in the number of virtual clinical trials and have also helped in strengthening the relationship between the caretaker and the patients. It also has proven to be cost-effective for not just the doctors but also the patients and are seen as a great way to maintain records.

Such use of emerging technologies is only possible with continuous attempts at using disruptive technologies that are also employed by top custom software development companies like ours. In times of crisis, telehealth applications have done their best to let people test at homes without the need to step out of their homes.