Right now, 76% of U.S. hospitals are employing video technology to meet with patients and consultants. This represents a sharp rise in video applications and an impactful change in the digital healthcare sector.
Video is changing how doctors, nurses, patients, and consultants interact and engage in medical treatments. With enhanced accessibility through video conferencing, millions are receiving the care they need from the comfort of their own homes.
But the impact of video in the digital healthcare sector may go even further. Here, you can explore the rise of video as a healthcare tool and its effect on the industry.
With the rise in video in healthcare has come a realization among care professionals that their workflows, as well as patient solutions, can be streamlined through this technology. The applications of telehealth services are diverse. So are the benefits that come from integrating them.
From the operational gains to the life-saving potential of video healthcare, telehealth services are changing the ways we think about medical care on the whole. These are just a few of the important benefits impacting the digital healthcare sector:
Convenience and Comfort
First and foremost, the role of video in healthcare has created an environment in which healthcare is more convenient and comfortable than ever before. For many reasons, patients can experience difficulties when it comes to seeking out medical care. For instance, individuals suffering from medical anxiety or PTSD symptoms like recurring nightmares might find the experience of physically going to the doctor triggering. Telehealth presents an opportunity for these patients to have a better, more comfortable experience.
Easier Recoveries
Similarly, patients recovering from extensive procedures and who require bed rest are much better served by virtual check-ins. Through video conferencing, care providers can monitor these recovering patients without having to disrupt their rest. The implementation of telehealth in post-operative care has been found to reduce hospital readmissions while improving patient satisfaction.
Reduced Costs and Materials
One study found that the use of in-home care tools like video to treat seniors who refused to be seen in hospitals cost 32% less than traditional hospital visits. This demonstrates how video can help serve to cut costs through a reduction in supplies, travel expenses, time and labor, and more. Since patients don’t have to leave their homes to speak with a doctor over video, savings are passed on to them. Facing high gas prices, this makes video healthcare more convenient than ever.
Reduced Burnout
Telehealth has also assisted care providers in managing their workload. With the ability to adjust a schedule to a hybrid model in which patients can be seen from a home office, these professionals can arrange for a more flexible work-life balance. Additionally, video allows health professionals to display real-time data to patients in ways that might be difficult in-office. As a result, telehealth can create a more accessible and transparent care environment for everyone.
Greater Accessibility and Safety
Finally, video offers enhanced safety and accessibility for many of the most at-risk and underserved patients. For example, approximately 10 million people in the U.S. alone live with an autoimmune disease. These patients put themselves at risk going to follow-up appointments and in-office check-ups. Video conferencing offers a safe and accessible solution for the millions with sufficient internet access. With advances in low bandwidth technology, even patients in more rural areas are finding this care accessible and valuable.
These many benefits of video technology are enhancing the digital healthcare sector for the good of patients all over the world. As a result, the cumulative impact of this technology is a positive one. Care providers can implement video to assist in these virtual procedures, from check-ins to diagnosis.