Remote Care and Disease Monitoring Are Among the Perks of Telehealth
Smartphones and computers can make just about everything easier today— from staying in touch with friends and family to grocery shopping. Another important way that these devices can simplify everyday life is with telemedicine, which allows patients to connect with health-care providers remotely through video calls, phone consultations, and patient portals.
As technology becomes more user-friendly, the barriers to accessing telemedicine for older adults are gradually decreasing. For instance, many telemedicine platforms have included larger fonts and simplified instructions. Initiatives aimed at providing digital literacy training and support for older adults— such as computer literacy classes at senior centers—further contribute to improving comfort and proficiency with technology.
Telemedicine—sometimes called telehealth—has experienced a significant increase in use since the COVID‑19 pandemic, when we all became more familiar with it. The key factor driving the use of telemedicine is its ability to facilitate health-care services, while minimizing the need for in-person visits, which increases convenience for everyone. Additionally, telemedicine offers a practical solution for people who have mobility challenges or live in remote areas where accessing health care can be difficult.
User-Friendly Telehealth Platforms
As digital devices have become integral to everyday use, older people are increasingly computer literate and comfortable with the type of technology necessary to participate in telemedicine. According to the Pew Research Center, 77 percent of adults ages 50 to 64 and 58 percent of adults ages 65 and older in the United States own smartphones. “There’s a tendency to think that older people aren’t as savvy about technology and therefore won’t be happy about being seen or monitored via telemedicine. But I find that my older patients are excited about being seen without having to travel across town,” says Heather Yeo, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery and Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Yeo was integral in developing a mobile app that aims to reduce the risk of postsurgical complications by virtually monitoring patient sleep and step count, among other things, during recovery.
Save Time and Money
Whether you are a patient or the caregiver for a relative or partner, telemedicine can save you time and money—by reducing time off from work, as well as costs associated with travel. Also, some insurance companies cover telemedicine at 100 percent. It can also lessen the stress that is sometimes associated with traditional medical appointments. “Many patients appreciate the convenience of virtual appointments, which eliminate the need for travel and may involve shorter wait times. This trend has prompted health-care providers to integrate telemedicine into their practices more extensively, offering a broader range of services remotely,” says Rahul Sharma, MD, Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine and Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Virtual Care at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Telemedicine Is Multifaceted
Regular access to telemedicine services enables patients to receive timely medical advice, monitoring, and management of chronic conditions, leading to better health outcomes and potentially reducing the risk of complications and hospitalizations. “People tend to think of telemedicine as a video equivalent of a doctor’s visit where the patient and doctor speak to each other through a computer or smartphone screen, and that is a key component of this type of health care, but there’s much more to it,” says Peter Greenwald, MD, Vice Chair for Clinical Strategy and Innovation for the Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine.
“For example,” Dr. Greenwald says, “telemedicine can include a dermatologist viewing digital images of a patient’s rash, reviewing the patient’s medical history and rendering a diagnosis and treatment plan without ever meeting with the patient.”
Here are some examples of how telemedicine is being used in health care:
Virtual consultations: Patients can consult with health-care providers for routine checkups, follow-up appointments, and management of chronic conditions without leaving home.
Specialist consultations: Patients can access specialist care, such as dermatology, cardiology, and neurology consultations, regardless of their geographic location.
Mental health services: Telemedicine platforms offer counseling, therapy, and psychiatric consultations, making mental health care more accessible and convenient for patients.
Urgent care services: Telemedicine provides a convenient alternative to emergency room visits for non-life-threatening conditions, allowing patients to receive timely medical advice without needing a ride to the ER or dealing with long waits when they get there.
Remote monitoring: Telemedicine enables health-care providers to monitor patients’ vital signs, symptoms, and medication adherence remotely, allowing for early intervention and personalized management of chronic diseases.
Stay Healthier Longer
Ultimately, telemedicine has the potential to enable people to stay healthier longer by facilitating convenient access to medical care and promoting active engagement in their health management. You can find more information about telehealth here: https://telehealth.hhs.gov/patients.
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