Despite having one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world, the US underperforms in many areas. From lack of insurance coverage and exorbitantly high medical bills to delayed care and preventable medical errors, Americans have to experience many issues accessing the healthcare amenities. However, telemedicine has helped solve most issues and is meeting the needs of today’s healthcare consumers.
This technological advancement has the capacity to revolutionize America’s healthcare system and improve its quality. It enables people to have increased access to healthcare services and seek urgent care from online doctors without the need to travel. Keep reading to learn more about telemedicine and its contribution in improving the US healthcare system.
Issues in the US Healthcare System and Telemedicine
Inconsistent Patient Care
Healthcare consumers receive different levels of care depending on their insurance plan, location, and other factors. While rural areas don’t have enough physicians, most urban areas have more than are needed.
With telemedicine, any patient can access their doctor regardless of their insurance plan, geographical location, or social status.
Lack of Insurance Coverage
Research shows that uninsured Americans may not seek healthcare due to high costs and even forgo essential preventative care and health screenings. Young children are also unable to get preventative care for various treatable conditions. This negatively affects their health and lifestyle.
Telemedicine platforms such as TelMDCare offer their services at a discounted rate and also accept patients without insurance coverage. Due to the low cost and increased accessibility of telemedicine, more and more people can seek medical care.
Lack of Efficiency
Hospital readmissions, preventable medical errors, and lack of quality care put patients’ health and lives at risk. Many hospitals try to increase their bills and keep patients longer than needed, which makes healthcare inefficient. Doctors spend unnecessary time coordinating with insurance companies, updating records, etc.
With telemedicine, people have more autonomy in their healthcare decisions. It eliminates the need for hospitalization by offering immediate care and overcomes the inefficiencies of traditional healthcare facilities. This saves time, money, and most importantly, a person’s life.
Limited Access
Many healthcare facilities only serve patients during regular office hours on weekdays. Not every individual has the privilege to get time off of work to go to their appointments, preventing them from seeking the medical care they need.
However, telemedicine offers increased access to patients to seek healthcare services at any time of the day they want. Virtual doctors are available round the clock to offer assistance without excessive waiting times.
High Costs of Care
Average healthcare prices in the US increase year after year. The average cost of a primary care doctor visit is $171, whereas visiting a specialist costs around $335—and it doesn’t include additional service costs such as lab testing, prescriptions, etc. This shows that how expensive it can be to get a basic checkup.
With telemedicine, people can access high-quality healthcare services at a much lower price. Offering online healthcare services allows clinics to save money on overhead costs, bills, rents, etc., enabling them to offer affordable medical care. For example, TelMDCare only charges $39 per virtual visit and offers a complementary follow-up session after.
Difficulty Finding a Doctor
It’s not easy to access information like doctor credentials when choosing a healthcare provider. You have to rely on online reviews that don’t offer a clear picture of a doctor’s skills and how well they treat medical conditions.
With telemedicine technology, you can find any virtual doctor in the country and access critical information in a few minutes. This allows you to explore various options, compare and contrast their services and past experiences, and choose the one that you find fit. It also offers you peace of mind.
Delayed Care
Delayed care is one of the biggest drawbacks of traditional healthcare systems. Seeking urgent care at a hospital involves many steps, including traveling to the hospital, documentation formalities, diagnosis, waiting for the doctor, etc. This delayed care leads to severe complications that can be been prevented with immediate medical attention.
Telemedicine offers immediate care to patients to help stabilize their conditions. Analytical software and advanced devices monitor a person’s health remotely and notify healthcare professionals about any emergencies. This not only offers urgent care but also reduces costs and helps older individuals or people with chronic conditions stay at home, with their loved ones.
Telemedicine has changed the way you seek medical care, and many advancements are yet to come. Managing your health digitally can have a significant effect on your health and overall lifestyle. If you’re looking for a reliable telehealth platform in the US, check out TelMDCare.
TelMDCare has experienced general physicians, primary doctors, family care doctors, and many other medical professionals on board, offering online consultation and guidance. Contact them for details.
About the Author
The author is affiliated with TelMDCare, an online healthcare platform. She writes helpful blogs and guides to help people make better healthcare decisions.
