TeleHealth - An Answer to All Your HealthCare Hassles

We all are aware of the benefits of a healthy life. The Healthcare industry has worked wonders in serving people in need and saving lives. But as the saying goes “every coin has two faces”, there is a dark side to it as well. It is a complex mesh of appointments, insurance approvals, waiting time, financial burden, and a very precious component, TIME. The time that is lost in going for appointments, waiting, parking hassles, commute and coordinating with the insurance companies. This again further leads to more financial burden. The solution to all these problems in the current Healthcare scenario is TELE-HEALTH.

Tele-health has started proving as a boon to the people affected by the Healthcare sector. It is the provision by means of which, a person/patient can avail healthcare services at the comfort of his/her home through telecommunication technology, without having to wait for appointments, miss work to be physically present for the appointments driving all the way, or wait for insurance approvals or referrals, even after paying a huge amount as co-pay. Also at times, the patient may not have insurance cover. In such a scenario, this proves to be all the more helpful. Today, telehealth has attained such a place in the healthcare sector that it needs no introduction. It has attained this special place because of the feasibility, ease of availability, and patient comfort it offers. Patient consultations and follow-ups are now just a click away with the help of their laptops or phones, without having to waste any time or shelling extra cash. Another promising and upcoming segment in telehealth is TELE-REHAB. Rehabilitation visits are typically more frequent and necessary. But can this be done from the comfort of a patient’s home? The answer is YES, it is possible. These services can be related to any kind of rehabilitation including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Psychotherapeutic counseling, or women’s health associated with pre-natal and post-natal care or any other condition requiring rehabilitation. The best part of tele-rehab is that the patients are not required to drive for the appointments or spend time in the waiting room of the clinic almost every day, take pre-authorizations or referrals by the primary treating physicians (because of direct access, referral is not required, but without a referral, insurance will not pay most of the times).

Also, it is easy on the pocket. This methodology of patient care is very useful for the geriatric (old-age) patients who are practically unable to attend rehab on a frequent/daily basis. Tele-rehab is also covered by insurance so it is not only a direct-pay option. The way technology is evolving, soon tele-rehab would be the most preferred form of treatment. However, of note, this is not a replacement to conventional treatment methods but just another mode of treatment with its own benefits unique benefits. As patients keep getting more proactive with technology for managing health, alternative ways of getting care involving telemedicine will keep evolving and improvising. This model of healthcare delivery empowers patients to be in charge of their own health, further leading to educating patients in better prevention approach. “The World is changing, so are we… Let’s promote health the smarter way”