During the COVID-19 pandemic, people look for more ways to access the services they need from the comfort and safety of their own homes. This includes grocery delivery, online ballet classes, distance learning, and telehealth services. Arguably the most important, telemedicine apps have the opportunity to make a big difference in patient care and improve the condition of the working environment for nurses and doctors. Here are some ways that telemedicine apps can be a savior during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reduces Hospital and Urgent Care Visits
Telemedicine apps resolve one of the biggest problems that people face when they need healthcare services: social distancing. The best way to avoid contracting COVID-19 is to distance yourself from other people. In-person healthcare services make this impossible. On top of that, hospitals and urgent care facilities are hot zones for contracting the virus and are stretched thin with the increased need for healthcare services and resources.
Telemedicine apps let you get the help that you need without visiting hospitals and urgent care facilities. This is safer for patients and reserves medical resources in facilities for patients that must visit a facility for care. Many medical conditions and ailments can be resolved without ever leaving home, thanks to telemedicine apps.
Fewer Healthcare Professionals Treating More Patients
The demand for trained healthcare professionals is increasing, but the supply is already occupied with work. The key to resolving this supply and demand problem is to improve efficiency. Telemedicine apps make it more efficient for doctors to see and treat patients, making it possible to treat more patients in the same amount of time.
For example, doctors won’t need to travel to see patients. They won’t have to walk around hospitals or medical facilities to coordinate care either. Doctors simply need access to a telemedicine-enabled device and a chair. From there, a single doctor can drastically increase the number of patients being assessed and treated.
Saves PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE), like face masks and gloves, are in short supply in most areas. Telemedicine apps make it possible to treat patients without exposing healthcare providers to illnesses. This makes PPE unnecessary, which can save lives in the medical field by reallocating them to other care providers and reducing the exposure of others. The reduced need for PPE can make it easier for care providers to treat patients without limitations on time and PPE requirements, leading to more patients receiving care. This also reduces the need for patients to have PPE, which is especially helpful since there are few, if any, places to acquire the appropriate PPE to protect against COVID-19.
Remote Support Without Geographical Boundaries
Patients generally won’t drive for hours to meet with a specialist or doctor. However, telemedicine apps enable doctors to treat patients outside of any geographical boundaries. You can even technically provide telehealth services to anyone who needs help, instead of just who lives within a certain distance from your physical office location. This can increase your practice’s potential target market.
New Revenue Stream
For doctors’ offices, urgent care centers, and hospitals, adding telemedicine to your list of available services creates a new revenue stream, even past the coronavirus pandemic. Many patients like to use telemedicine, even when it is deemed safe to go outside. By investing in a telemedicine app now, your business will be prepared to continue operating telehealth services for years to come.
If you are interested in learning more about telehealth apps and telehealth development, contact KitelyTech today on (800) 274 2908. KitelyTech has a wide range of experience in mobile app development, and has experience working with clients in highly regulated industries, such as medicine.
