From in-person visits with specialists to video calls with primary care doctors, offices have to juggle multiple appointment styles today. The trend of telehealth services began during the pandemic, and it remains a preferred appointment choice for many patients.
To better understand why most patients prefer telehealth visits, consider some of the benefits this kind of appointment offers.
The most critical aspect of telehealth services is providing healthcare services to communities in need. Research shows that, according to Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, telehealth services are most valuable for remote patients with chronic conditions, such as congestive heart failure. Visiting a doctor’s office requires time, transportation, and physical and mental exertion, which can be challenging for some patients.
While telehealth appointments are popular among those between 18 and 25, older generations also value them. Many enjoy connecting with their doctors and receiving individualized attention without needing to check-in in the lobby and sitting in a waiting room.
One of the reasons people may prefer telehealth appointments is the added convenience of the service. It’s nice not to drive a few hours away or reschedule elsewhere because a doctor is out of network. Being able to connect with doctors via video is convenient for patients who work full-time, have unreliable transportation, or do not feel well enough to be around others.
Timeliness is vital in doctor’s appointments. Before video appointments, most clinics would have long wait times, whether it’s the weeks needed to schedule the appointment or time spent waiting in the lobby. Additionally, doctors would sometimes take a while to get to an exam room, further eating away at a patient’s precious time with their physician.
Doctors now have more flexibility, allowing them to review charts and first-visit surveys hours in advance so that they can prepare themselves for every appointment. A video visit lasts the exact amount that you schedule it for, meaning patients don’t feel rushed and can communicate their concerns more thoroughly.
Sometimes, video is a safe space for patients, especially those seeking mental health services. Instead of being around sick individuals or spreading germs, patients feel better attending video calls with doctors, as they don’t have to put anyone at risk.
Despite not having doctors nearby, many in rural areas can now find accessible services online. Even if patients can’t travel to doctors, they can communicate with specialty physicians to get the best care they need without traveling. Telehealth has made it easier to find and schedule appointments with specialists outside the state or town where a patient resides.
Doctors’ offices can also benefit from this change in appointment preferences. Here are the things clinics have enjoyed experiencing since offering video appointments with their clientele.
While doing in-office visits benefits patients, it’s sometimes not possible, and managing patients in-person costs more. Telehealth patients have the chance to connect with their doctors at a lower cost. Clinics can save more by offering video chat visits from their offices instead of strictly making in-person appointments.
Accessibility is essential to all health services. The best way to extend medical services to communities in need is by offering telehealth services.
In the most remote areas, there is no hospital or clinic nearby, and if there is, there are long waits and limited doctors. Some community members travel hours to another city or state to get the healthcare they need. With the use of telehealth, that traveling is no longer necessary. Patients now have access to primary care and specialty doctors for serious medical issues, and you can expand your practice’s reach to assist them.
Mental healthcare is another crucial service that some don’t have access to, even those with the best insurance policies. With the help of virtual appointments, patients don’t need to wait to travel to see a doctor. Therapists can now offer virtual appointments with their patients, including offering third-party services to diagnose specific conditions properly. This factor means that you can see more patients and recommend mental health services to patients in need more readily than before.
Clinics today have an opportunity to restructure their services. For instance, mental health and primary care doctors can manage their appointments from home. All that’s required is a quiet space for working, which ensures that doctors and patients feel like they are in the office together.
Working from home also helps to protect care providers from catching or transmitting illnesses. The future of healthcare has gone digital, making it easier for doctors and patients to connect and solve health problems together.
While this is a huge step for patients and practices alike, there is the question of when people should use telehealth. In theory, this change helps primary care doctors in several ways, such as allowing for work-from-home arrangements, improved communication with patients, and more accessible schedules.
However, it is still vital to schedule in-person appointments when a patient needs to have something checked out, such as X-rays, bloodwork, heart problems, and more. Primary care doctors should provide patients with a list of specialists to visit for specific medical problems.
It’s best for patients to use telehealth in these cases:
If a patient is experiencing any serious medical problems, they must seek immediate medical attention. Online help can only do so much for outpatients; create a medical plan with patients so that they know their options if something dire arises.
It’s essential to provide telehealth services in your facility. If your medical center’s considering leaping into virtual appointments, you’ll need the right equipment to start the process. First Products offers advanced, portable equipment to use in-office while video chatting with their patients.
You can find a range of telehealth carts for doctors to utilize during video appointments. Our carts can fit tablets and computer screens, and we offer fixed attachments for wipes that allow physicians to sanitize the cart between uses.
The reasons why most patients prefer telehealth visits revolve around convenience, speed, safety, and access. Because of these reasons, First Products offers medical facilities mobile telehealth trolleys to use to make healthcare possible for every patient, near and far. You can find all you need for your virtual appointments through First Products.