Telehealth is a rapidly growing industry these days. It is one of the biggest achievements in terms of advancement in technology. Gone are the days where you had to travel hours of distances and wait for a whole day sitting o/utside a well-qualified doctor’s office. While this may sound like an era from the past, the rural communities have been going through this even today. However, with the internet options rural communities have access to, telehealth has become widely accessible to them. It has brought great healthcare services right at their doorsteps at a fraction of the actual cost. No more long waiting lists or drives, just connect yourself to the internet and voila! You have a doctor’s appointment on the spot. You can even book them in advance if you wish.
The medical advancements brought by telehealth services to the rural people have undoubtedly saved them a ton of money and has given the community a very affordable option in terms of medical facilities. All they have to do is connect their devices online and search for a good doctor while sitting inside the comfort of their homes. All of this is heavily dependent upon a good internet connection. As telehealth wouldn’t be possible without a stable internet connection. Today we will see about all the basic elements of telehealth and how it has revolutionized our entertainment industry.
Why go for telehealth in the first place
There are about 60 million people in the U.S. alone that reside in the suburbs. While there are great offerings provided by the rural areas like a calm and quiet environment, vast lands, fresh air, cheaper cost of living etc. The health sector isn’t up to the mark. There are limited to no medical facilities, doctors and hospitals available in these areas and people usually travel to nearby cities for finding a good doctor’s appointment.
With such difficulties, telehealth is the best option for these people. It provides you with a value for money system. On top of that, you can video call great doctors from anywhere across the world. Telehealth has started to become a lifeline for all the rural communities as it saves the people a lot of traveling time and money. They can schedule virtual appointments, describe all the symptoms to the doctor and receive a thorough diagnosis, all from the comfort of their homes. It is especially helpful when there is a medical emergency and you require guidance of a professional before reaching the hospital.
The Pros of Telehealth For The Ruralies
There are many benefits that the rural communities have. Let’s dive into all the positives of telehealth.
Easy access to doctors
This is one of the most beneficial services telehealth has to offer. There might be only a handful of doctors living in the rural area. Most of them are not that qualified. Whereas by using telehealth services via the internet, they can connect to top class practitioners and surgeons.
Saves traveling time
It is a common practice for the ruralites to travel a few hours to see any decent doctor for checkups. This can be a tiresome journey especially for the patients who are already not feeling well. This travellin time causes them fatigue and delays their health recovery. However, with telehealth, the patients can choose from a variety of qualified specialists from the comfort of their couches!
Saving costs
This is another big advantage of telehealth. Not only do you save your traveling time, but you also save a ton of fuel costs associated with it. You may have to take unpaid leaves from the office to travel to a doctor at times. With telehealth services, you don’t have to do that anymore either. All of these added costs for a doctor’s visits can now be saved just by connecting to the doctors online.
Best for emergency situations
If you ever find yourself wanting immediate medical assistance, even 911 would take some time to reach you. Whereas, through telehealth you can instantly connect with a specialist who can guide you to a quick first aid until actual help arrives. This alone can be a lifesaver at times.
The rise of telehealth in the U.S.
There was a slow growth in this industry before the Covid-19 pandemic. However, with the covid situation and extreme social distancing, telehealth saw a major boost across the states. Adopting this method opened up a new channel for many individuals who were previously reluctant to consult online doctors. They found this method to be convenient as well as effective for most of their needs. Even post pandemic, many patients now prefer online appointments rather than in-person visits as it saves them time and cost.
What’s the future for telehealth in the rural areas
As the technology is progressing every single day, the internet options rural areas have are increasing as well as improving over the time. This internet revolution is allowing them faster and reliable speeds that are boosting the telehealth sector in these areas rapidly. The government is also realizing the benefits of providing fast internet and telehealth access to the ruralites and hence working on expanding it even more. The future is definitely;y bright in the telehealth sector as more and more people are bound to adopt it over the next few years due to the multiple conveniences it offers.
Conclusion
Telehealth has revolutionized the way people interact with the healthcare industry in the rural areas. It has made the healthcare sector more accessible, cost effective and convenient for the rural people. Due to the constant growth of internet options rural areas are now having the same level of access to the best healthcare practitioners just as the urbanits have. Such access to healthcare was previously not possible for the suburbs without going through the hassle of traveling for hours, spending extra money on travel costs etc. Over the years we have seen how positive the impact of telehealth is on the rural people. It is bound to grow from here given the fact that the government and private sectors are already expanding the internet services to these far-off areas. The telehealth sector will keep on flourishing in the rural places.
