One of the most significant shifts the healthcare industry has adapted to in recent years is telemedicine. The pandemic progressed the adoption of telemedicine, as healthcare professionals needed to adapt to the situation while providing care that respected physical distancing rules. Not only does telemedicine technology promote inclusion, but it also fosters better communication between the patient and healthcare provider. But what about surgical care? Is it possible to integrate telemedicine with surgical care? In this blog, we will explore the topic of telemedicine and the impact it has on surgical care.
What is Telemedicine in Surgical Care?
Telemedicine is a form of healthcare that is facilitated through the use of technology to digitally provide medical care. These solutions incorporate video consultations, remote monitoring, and instant messaging features to manage communications between clincians and patients. While surgical care is a field that typically operates with in-person consultations and procedures, there are limitations and drawbacks within their systems. Telemedicine can provide preoperative and post-operative care, offering an improved patient experience and outcomes.
The Benefits of Telemedicine in Surgical Care
Facilitating Easy Access to Virtual Assessments
One of the critical benefits of telemedicine is the ability to access care anywhere. Those who live in rural or remote areas often face challenges when accessing healthcare services – especially those who need surgical care. These patients might be required to travel long distances to see their doctors or healthcare providers. This process can be time-consuming, strenuous, and expensive, especially for those with mobility issues. Telemedicine expels these challenges by arranging remote access to medical care – where patients can converge with their doctors before and after surgery. Not only does this save energy, but this tool is beneficial for patients who require ongoing follow-up appointments. Telemedicine can also help reduce the mental weight on healthcare providers in remote areas, enabling more patients to receive the preoperative and post-operative care they need.
Encourage Patients to Manage and Monitor Their Own Health Actively
Telemedicine provides patients with enhanced care by allowing them to monitor their health at home. This feature is essential for patients who have gone through surgery as they must be closely monitored by their doctors to ensure they recover without complications. Patients who have undergone surgery are not entirely dependent on the doctors for their recovery; they can learn more about their body by tracking their symptoms. If they spot any unusual activity, they can report any changes to their healthcare provider in real time. This feature is essential as the patients can detect potential health issues early on, preventing complications and minimizing hospitalization. While the patients are given the tools to monitor their health, this also gives the healthcare provider more control of their time, which can increase the quality of care given to the patients.
Enhancing the Quality of Care
With the use of telemedicine platforms, patients and their healthcare providers can also collaborate with other medical professionals. This is an essential feature since patients can save time and energy compared to meeting various specialists in person. Patients who’ve undergone surgery may require multiple follow-up appointments with different specialists, and can benefit from remote consultations. Healthcare professionals can also save themselves time with patients that require a multidisciplinary approach to their care. If healthcare providers can connect with other specialists in real-time, this can lead to an overall accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and faster recovery time.
Advocating for the use of telemedicine in surgery
Adopting telemedicine in surgical care provides long-term benefits, revolutionizing the delivery of surgical care in many ways. While there are some considerations that healthcare providers must keep in mind, such as regulatory compliance and patient acceptance, these benefits stated make telemedicine an enticing option for delivering surgical care remotely. With the proper infrastructure and support in place, telemedicine can improve patient’s overall quality of care and make surgical care more accessible and efficient for healthcare providers.
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