Focus on Tele Health Services

Ever since the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has impacted nearly every phase of our lives, including how we perceive healthcare services. With the lockdown in place, it has become more difficult for patients to get the treatment they need. This compelled the healthcare sector to use telehealth services. However, there is still a lack of information about the subject, and healthcare mental health technicians lack the expertise around it. This blog deals with the ins and outs of telehealth services, their benefits, and their future.

Table of Contents

• What are telehealth services?
• Why are telehealth services more relevant today?
• What are the benefits of telehealth services?
• How do you prepare your patients for telehealth services?
• The future of telehealth services
• Conclusion

What are telehealth services?

The term telehealth refers to the delivery of health care, health education, and other health information via remote technologies. Often, the terms telemedicine, telehealth, and virtual health are interchangeably used but have unique definitions.

While telemedicine is typically limited to direct clinical provider-to-patient care, telehealth service comprises health screening to prevention, health maintenance, professional health-related education, public health, and health administration.

For instance, during an emergency, a physician may conduct an urgent care consultation for a patient in a different country through a video call. Telehealth services are generally provided for non-life-threatening conditions.

Why are telehealth services more relevant today?

With much innovation in the telehealth industry in the past few years, the need has never been more prevalent than before. And the biggest contributor to this demand is the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth services came as a great solution to many of the problems of staying at home and practicing social distancing.

The World Health Organisation has mentioned that telemedicine services will be used for “strengthening the health systems response to COVID-19 policy.” This reflects the importance of telehealth and telemedicine services in the coming times. The technology is already being updated as much as possible.

However, the challenges on the path should also be noticed. One of the significant issues with telehealth services is the lack of doctors and clinicians who can provide the service. Though telehealth services do not require special training to become telehealth service workers, they do need some basic training to understand how the services work. They need to be aware of the limitations of telehealth services and how to overcome them.

What are the benefits of telehealth services?

Patients can rely on telehealth services only when they trust them. As a medical practitioner, you need to make your patients aware of the impact and benefits of telehealth services.

1. Accessibility: Telehealth eliminates geographical barriers, ensuring that individuals, regardless of their location, can access quality healthcare. This is particularly valuable for those in rural areas or areas with limited medical facilities.
2. Convenience: The convenience of telehealth is unparalleled. Patients can schedule appointments without worrying about commute time, waiting rooms, or taking time off work. It’s healthcare on your terms.
3. Flexibility: Telehealth provides flexible scheduling options, making it easier for individuals to find appointments that fit their busy lives.
4. Reduced Costs: Virtual visits often come with lower costs compared to in-person appointments. There are no transportation expenses, and some insurance plans cover telehealth services.
5. Continuity of Care: Telehealth allows patients to maintain their relationship with a trusted healthcare provider even if they relocate, ensuring consistent and ongoing care.
6. Privacy: Virtual consultations offer a private and secure environment for sensitive discussions, which can be particularly crucial in mental health services.

How do you prepare your patients for telehealth services?

Patients shy away from taking telehealth services because they probably aren’t aware of how telepathy services work. A mental health service provider can help the patients overcome any doubts or fears about taking these services.

Here are a few steps to encourage patients to take telehealth services:

• Introducing patients to telepathic services.
• Appointment logistics.
• Obtain informed consent.
• Getting the patients.
• Find out about the patient’s available technology.
• Considering patients who do not have internet or phone services.

The future of telehealth services

Telehealth has the power to re-engineer almost all areas of healthcare in the future. Fortunately, we are past the point where we need to prove how health applications work. Future calls for focusing on how we can better harness the technology to its optimal level of care and do it as effectively and efficiently as possible to get it deeply embedded in the healthcare system.

However, there are challenges as well that raise many questions for the industry: what is the role of healthcare in enhancing value and improving patient outcomes? Or how can telehealth services decrease care fragmentation?

With challenges also come opportunities. The future calls for thinking about how to overcome barriers and capitalize on opportunities. We need to think beyond clinical applications but also for telehealth utility, continuing education, new training opportunities, and distance-based health professional training oversight. Rightly extracted opportunities in telehealth can make a real difference in the healthcare system in terms of access, quality, and efficiency.

Conclusion

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the landscape of healthcare has shifted, prompting the adoption of telehealth services to bridge the gap between patients and treatments. While challenges persist, such as the lack of expert practitioners, telehealth’s relevance remains undeniable. Telehealth’s benefits include improved accessibility, convenience, flexibility, reduced costs, continuity of care, and enhanced privacy. Educating patients about its advantages and assisting them in navigating its usage are crucial steps toward embracing telehealth for a healthier future. Take the first step towards mental well-being today. Access our expert psychiatric services for personalized support on your journey to a healthier mind. Book your first tele – consultation now!