Telemedicine has been a very important and essential tool in this pandemic. Many people are going through the phase of the second wave where they are positive. In the midst of a pandemic, it is important to stay in touch with your doctor. National and International guidelines of maintaining social distancing worldwide are mandatory for everyone. 

Digital care is the new mantra in the health industry

Telemedicine is an interactive system of medicine that is the safest right now than physical consultation. Physical consultation puts you at higher risk of transmission of coronavirus infection. Let’s not forget the old protocol in which the patient used to wait in long queues to meet the doctors and consult for their treatment. The infected and uninfected patients now can opt for digital care during this pandemic. The clinicians and doctors are putting their best foot forward to consult the patients. A few potential evidence-based scenarios for the application of telemedicine have been put forward in various studies. 

Monitoring health is very important 

Monitoring your health is of prime importance if you are suffering from any chronic diseases. This can definitely reduce the high risk of complications and comorbidities in the case of chronic diseases. Some chronic diseases like blood pressure, diabetes, and other health problems need monitoring with your family physicians. This can definitely reduce the poor prognosis of any disease. 

Prevention is better than cure 

The pandemic stressed the further importance of remote monitoring. Lockdown or no Lockdown, telemedicine is here to stay. Even as the lockdown lifts, the clinician feels that telemedicine and teleconsultation will stay for long among the patients. From physical care to fixing digital care, the transition is much needed in this pandemic. Healthcare providers believe that telemedicine will go a long way and will be present post-pandemic too. Around 30-40 % of the OPD is going to continue through teleconsultation.

 Physical and Digital consultations 

Complex consultations are likely to go back to inpatient visits at the clinic. 80 % of patients are switching for good follow-ups with their doctor online. Telemedicine this pandemic is very important for patients and their follow-ups which can be managed online. Tech is the new demand of healthcare. Earlier, there was a need for great infrastructure which was the need in rural areas and semi-urban areas. Now, an online digital platform for healthcare is helping patients from rural areas as well. Let’s not deny the fact that emergency cases still need the hospital infrastructure. Case consultations should be backed up with tech, infrastructure, and a quality doctor interface. 

COVID lockdown has accelerated the telemedicine

We are still in the acceptance process of telemedicines. Some patients are still following the old protocol were meeting their doctor’s in-person works positively for them. Complex consultations can go back to clinics for physical doctors’ consultations. A study in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) says, Almost 75 % of doctors were surveyed and agreed that telemedicine should become a part of daily practice. Nearly 80 % of healthcare professionals and doctors were of opinion that telemedicine is good for follow-up patients.

Telemedicine is a viable option for the government and corporates to deliver quality healthcare services to the larger rural population. The  International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) report further highlighted that 60 % of patients found that examination and adherence to telemedicine can be quite challenging.