By Maya Belle
In the midst of the recent pandemic, healthcare resources have become harder to access. A solution many hospitals and clinics have put in place is Telehealth, which is a great way for people in isolated areas to get the help they need. But what are some ways we use Telehealth in our daily lives?
According to NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine), can be defined as the delivery and facilitation of health and health related services via telecommunications and digital communication technologies. This essentially means, health related resources that give out information through electronic devices.
There are many different types of Telehealth; in fact, you may be using Telehealth in your daily life without even knowing it! For example, you could be using an online portal to plan appointments and see the details of your prescriptions. You could also be getting a call or text message to remind you of an appointment, vaccination or examination.
One of the most popular types of Telehealth is mHealth, or mobile health. Currently, 95 percent of Americans have a cell phone, and 77 percent have a smartphone. Mobile Telehealth consists largely of apps and trackers, and even videos. Someone with diabetes may own an app to track their blood sugar levels, or someone who is losing weight may track their calories with an app. These methods may be easier for people than recording their information on paper, and with an app, they won’t risk losing information or receiving misinformation.
Another huge form of Telehealth is video conferencing. Kaiser Permanente, the Defense Department and the Department of Veteran Affairs have all used video conferencing to supply healthcare services to make healthcare more accessible. Video conferencing has also been used for military personnel, inmates, and patients in rural areas to provide effective healthcare. Telehealth is indeed a very useful tool to provide patients in hard-to-reach areas with the correct medical care, and will likely gain traction in the coming years.
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