You may have overheard people speaking about telehealth or you have read about it in healthcare journals or articles. Telehealth refers to the delivery of healthcare services to patients using technology.

To access telehealth care, you need a device that can access the internet and a healthcare facility with a working telehealth policy.

Telehealth services allow you to talk to your healthcare provider and have them monitor your progress remotely. Telehealth services, such as those provided by Telehealth Care Florida, keep improving, but there is still a long way to go in making it work.

Here is all you need to know about telehealth services in 2022.

History of Telehealth

Telehealth began in the 1940s when the first radiological images were sent via telephone. Doctors began using the telephone to communicate with their patients and other healthcare providers until the introduction of the internet in the 1990s.

As more people gain access to the internet, healthcare providers are now using various devices, such as computers and smartphones, to offer telehealth services.

Telehealth vs. Telemedicine

Sometimes telehealth is used interchangeably with telemedicine, but these two terms mean different things.

Telehealth is a broad policy that covers different healthcare services, including medical care provision, education, and self-care communication.

Telemedicine, on the other hand, refers to the remote treatment of patients using telecommunication technology. 

Types of Telehealth Services

Patients can access several types of telehealth services depending on their health condition. Your doctor can use telehealth to monitor your condition and determine the next cause of action. They can also use telehealth to send information, such as your medical records, to other specialists.

Healthcare providers can also use telehealth to send you information regarding your condition and instructions on managing it. Telehealth can help contain and manage patients with infectious diseases, such as Covid-19.

Pros and Cons of Telehealth

The pros of telehealth services include reduced physical access to patients, reduced waiting periods, virtual healthcare visits, and easy access to specialists. Telehealth reduces unnecessary emergency room visits; hence healthcare providers only attend to people needing emergency treatment.

Telehealth is not perfect, and some of the disadvantages of telehealth include difficulties conducting physical examinations, few people having access to the internet, and too many regulations making healthcare providers hesitant to implement telehealth in their facilities.

Summary

Current and emerging technology can help improve telehealth services and improve access to healthcare. There are disadvantages to using telehealth, but the advantages outweigh them; hence telehealth is perfect for every healthcare system. If you have concerns about using telehealth, you can discuss it further with your healthcare provider.

Sources:

Telehealth: The advantages and disadvantages - Harvard Health

Why Should We Not Ignore Telehealth Care After The Covid 19 Pandemic? | Telehealth Care Florida

Dr. Lorie Poston is a nurse practitioner with over a decade of experience in medicine. She is a dual board certified as a Family and an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care nurse practitioner and now operates Telehealth Care Florida.



Thank you for reading Patient Education Essentials, the Write Shift RN blog.

Disclaimer: This article was written as a guest post for Write Shift RN LLC's blog. The information in it may not be wholly fact-checked or edited, allowing the reader to see the writer's work and skills firsthand. This information is not intended as medical advice. It is for informational and educational purposes only. Always talk to your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers about any questions or concerns you may have regarding medical conditions.