Telehealth has changed the ways that people look at cancer care. Compared to traditional face-to-face methods, it’s faster and easier to communicate remotely. This new field that is becoming more important in the medical industry.
Technology is Important Now
Medical technology has made it easier for doctors and nurses to communicate with their patients. In addition to making traditional phone calls, medical professionals can communicate to others through live video chats on the phone or over the Internet. They can hold meetings, make presentations, carry out doctor’s appointments and more.
The most advanced forms allow doctors to perform surgeries or physical examinations remotely. Robotic surgery is possible when a certain doctor is needed for an emergency operation. Some physical therapy sessions can occur if the doctors can monitor their patients using audio and video tools. There is also body gear that some patients wear to monitor their vital signs and send real-time information to the doctors.
Long-Distance Cancer Care
The Internet has been incorporated into every medical department from accounting to customer service. Even patients with the most serious diseases are benefiting from these long-distance services. Cancer patients are following up with doctors who are hundreds of miles away. They are having face-to-face meetings without being in the same room. They are able to ask questions, receive advice and give updates about their health status.
The main setback is that the doctor cannot touch the patient and examine symptoms that involve texture or smell. However, doctors can still see parts of the patient’s body and look at the symptoms up close.
A Wide Range of Conveniences
Distant treatments are recommended for cancer patients who are too sick to travel. Many suffer from headaches, nausea, nerve pain and other problems that make it difficult to move around. At a standard hospital or doctor’s office, they could be asked to sit around for hours while in pain. This waiting time is added to the long hours of driving on the road. Telecommunication removes the discomfort and inconvenience for people who are dealing with cancer.
Access to Mental Health Resources
Mental health is an important part of treatment for severely ill patients. Many psychiatrists and mental health experts are connecting to their clients over the Internet. Having a counseling session face to face is no longer required. Some people prefer the close, in-person contact, while others feel uncomfortable in a doctor’s office. A lot of people refuse to see a psychiatrist because the contact is too intimate. However, they are more willing to speak to one through live video or text chats.
Coverage by Insurance Companies
In the U.S., many health insurance companies are required to cover the costs of telehealth services. These include the costs of long-distance video chats or phone calls, medical lab tests, home deliveries of medication and the use of remote monitoring equipment. These services are beneficial to patients who cannot travel and doctors who cannot meet in their offices. In addition, there are fewer people in line at pharmacies and shorter lines at hospital waiting rooms.
Cancer is not going away soon, but the resources being used to treat it are becoming more advanced. Telehealth is improving the ways that people get treated for cancer and other serious illnesses. Whether they cannot travel or live a few miles from the hospital, they have access to more healthcare services.
