Healthcare’s primary aim to deliver high quality and appropriate care to patients. However, with housebound, hard to reach patients or even just general healthcare inquiries, video conferencing can offer a solution to keep the quality of care consistent and cut waiting times.
There has already been an introduction of technological services, with 97 percent of patients in Englandnow able to access medical records, book appointments and order their repeat prescriptions online. While several large consulting firms have forecast that virtual physician visits will soon be the norm in the USA. Deloitte has already reported that as many as one in six doctors ‘appointments’ are virtual.
Video conferencing allows a patient to have a virtual check-in with a doctor, while the high-quality video enables the doctor to visually evaluate the patient and carry out any necessary assessments for further treatment. Furthermore, being able to communicate with the doctor face to face can soothe patient anxiety.
Receiving a diagnosis quicker:
Video conferencing allows doctors to view patients faster and reduce the stress about conflicting schedules. Video conferencing allows both doctors and patients to have an appointment when it suits them best. Video conferencing reduces the amount of time required per patient without reducing the amount of care patients receive, therefore allowing doctors to see more patients and reduce waiting times.
Patients are also more likely to show up to online appointments. They are easier to organise around work schedules and there are little unexpected delays due to transport, e.g. traffic or delayed public transport. Video conferencing in the healthcare industry allows doctors to examine and diagnose patients from their office and then determine whether an in-person meeting is necessary.
Accessing the inaccessible:
Arguably, the most significant benefit of using video conferencing is that it allows care to be distributed and received across a bigger population and delivered with a shorter response time. Video conferencing lets doctors diagnose patients online, therefore making it easier to treat patients who have mobility restrictions or do not have easy access to hospital/GP clinic because they live remotely. These patients will still be able to receive treatment from doctors without the stress of using necessary transport.
Cutting travel and stress:
Adopting video conferencing within healthcare can reduce the time for both doctors and patients. For individuals with chronic conditions or disabilities that restrict their mobility,
travelling to a doctor’s office for regular appointments can often be extremely stressful. Video conferencing allows patients to continue to make their regular appointments but without the added burden of travelling. For example, within paediatrics, being able to use video conferencing can prevent anxiety and the stress of transporting an ill child to receive help.
Improved communication:
Video conferencing can improve communication between doctors and their co-workers, whether requesting advice or more information on a patient. For complex medical problems, video conferencing allows medical specialists to come together for virtual meetings to discuss the care of tricky patients. Video conferencing within the healthcare industry can ensure that patients can receive the best medical advice without geographical restrictions.
While the face-to-face appointments will always remain most suitable in some cases, patients and doctors are starting to acknowledge that video appointments might be preferable and suitable in a range of scenarios. For example, if there is no time to travel the distance between patient and doctor, video conferencing can provide an effective solution.