You might have heard the word “Telehealth” thrown around a lot nowadays. Do you know what that means? It’s a combination of healthcare and technology, including AI, VR, robotics, and more.
Healthcare isn’t what it used to be, and that’s for the better. Thanks to rapid advancements, medical care is now much more flexible, affordable, and accessible to people who previously struggled to access it.
Keeping that in mind, here are some ways through which technology is making healthcare more accessible for everyone.
1. Telemedicine: See a Doctor without Leaving Your Home
Telemedicine has become increasingly prevalent, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies show that over 80% of the population has now used telemedicine at least once in their life.
Do you remember when you used to take time off work, just to go see a doctor? Not anymore.
Telemedicine breaks these barriers. The appointments for which we used to wait hours can now be done in just under 10 minutes through conferencing tools.
Patients can now consult with doctors via video calls, obtain online prescriptions, and follow up on their chronic conditions with just a click. This technology has become a game-changer for patients living in remote areas or those with mobility issues.
2. X-Ray and Diagnostic Services
One of the biggest challenges for older patients and those with mobility issues is accessing the diagnostic centre for routine tests and X-rays.
However, with the advent of mobile X-ray services, things have improved significantly and become more accessible. They now bring diagnostic services directly to the patient’s location. Portable screening machines and trained technicians can now perform chest X-rays and other diagnostic tests from the comfort of your own home.
This is a great example of how technology makes healthcare not only fast but also more patient-friendly.
3. Mobile Health Apps in Your Pocket
There are now thousands of health apps that help people take control of their health, right from their phones. With these apps, anyone can track their nutrition, blood pressure, glucose, physical activity, and more.
These tools help bridge the gap between visits and empower patients to stay on top of their health every day. Patients simply track their daily food intake and other details in the app and receive customized suggestions on how to improve their health. These apps are also great for monitoring your sleep cycles for better recovery.
4. Wearable Health Devices that Keep Doctors in the Loop
When discussing advancements in healthcare, it seems unfair to overlook wearable health devices. These devices have become significantly more advanced and are now used to track heart health and other health indicators.
Some devices even have the capability to send out notifications if your heartbeat becomes irregular or too fast. This has already helped many individuals realize they were having a heart attack.
Not only that, but these devices are also used to track various health metrics, including steps, physical activity, and more. It’s often used by people who want to lose weight.
Summing Up
Technology isn’t here to replace doctors. It enables them to reach more people in more places and in many different ways.
Whether it’s through telemedicine, wearable devices, or health apps, healthcare is becoming more accessible for everyone.
And the best part? This is just the beginning.