Virtual Healthcare – A Welcome Step for A Better Future

Healthcare is the maintenance or the improvement of health through prevention of diseases, diagnosis, surgeries, and many other ways. Healthcare is provided by many types of doctors like physicians, surgeons, nurses, cardiologists, audiologist, gynecologist and many more in Hospitals and Clinics built around the world in different areas. The healthcare system has become more advanced and has offered a lot of job opportunities for trained and educated people around the world especially during these tough times as hospitals need a lot of trained nurses and other doctors who can help the patients even in the lockdown and curfews.

The healthcare system is not that advanced in some places like the rural areas. As the hospitals and clinics are not built properly due to financial problems. There are no trained doctors or nurses who can look after the patients who need their help. Due to these patients have to travel long distances to get proper medical care. Looking at the situation, the healthcare industry is coming up with different types of solutions like Patient Consumerization, Virtual Healthcare and many more. In this article we will focus on Virtual Care and how it can help in the advancement of the healthcare industry.

So, Virtual Healthcare as the term suggests, refers to the way patients can interact with the doctors electronically and virtually. Virtual Healthcare fulfills all the needs of a patient without him/her stepping out of their houses. This can be helpful especially in these tough times as patients hesitate to step out of their houses because they are concerned about their safety. Not only theirs but also the safety of their closed and loved ones. Recent study shows that Virtual Healthcare is what patients want, as they can avoid long waiting hours and, they can get their checkups done safely at home.

Virtual Healthcare is also beneficial for the people living in rural areas since the people do not get proper medical care due to financial crisis and other main reasons. The people in rural areas can interact with the doctors sitting at home and can get a proper medical checkup done. Without this, patients must travel long distances just to get a proper medical checkup done. Virtual Healthcare is easy to follow nowadays because everyone has access to the internet and has smartphones. A lot of clinics around the world have already started with Virtual Healthcare, and recent study shows that patients are finding this helpful and less stressful. With Virtual Healthcare, the elderly can get their checkups done from time to time just sitting at home comfortably. People can avoid wasting their time getting stuck in the traffic, waiting for a long time in the clinic or hospital just to get their checkups done.

Barriers of Virtual Healthcare

To take up Virtual Healthcare both the patient and the doctor should be comfortable with the technology. Youngsters or even middle-aged patients may find it easy to get their checkups done virtually. But the problem comes with the Seniors or the elderly people who are not that comfortable or used to the smartphones or the technology around. Apart from this, lack of broadband or internet access is also a major barrier. Almost the entire world is aware of the internet and its uses, but there are some who have no idea about the word ‘Internet’ and have least knowledge about the technology. People like these stay far away from the cities and must travel long distances in case of emergency. Patients may also have trust issues with the internet, as they must give their mobile numbers and other information. They may also lack trust in the Virtual Healthcare services. And as mentioned before, not everyone has access to high-speed internet, so when the patient and the doctor are in a meeting or on a call, disconnection and lag may be common.

Ways to Overcome These Barriers

Teaching our seniors more about technology and how a smartphone works might be the solution. Informing them about the internet and its uses, how it works, the advantages and the disadvantages will help. If this is not possible, guiding them or helping them when they have an appointment with a doctor will be of great help as well. Education is the top priority and the most important thing when it comes to the people of rural areas. So, investing money in introducing internet and broadband access in the rural areas is the solution. Educating people about a smartphone and how the internet works will help. According to the experts, using a DSL internet or a fixed wireless internet will be of great use in the rural areas. Some of the rural areas have already taken steps for a better future and have access to fast internet. If the same is followed in different rural areas around the world, then Virtual Healthcare will become the new normal soon. Some of the people have the internet, but no trust. In this case, trusted and safe websites should be made, where the patient’s information remains safe, so that the patients don’t have to think twice before giving their information.