(Reston, VA, April 1, 2020) – With the recent outbreak of COVID-19 on the nation and world, telemedicine is serving as an effective infection control policy, keeping both healthcare providers and patients safer from coronavirus. In fact, as much as 25% of hospital care could be performed remotely through the use of telemedicine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged doctors and hospitals to first assess potentially infected patients remotely and suggests that patients with mild symptoms from COVID-19 can be cared for at home when possible, but monitored closely using virtual check-ins.
What happens to these patients when they arrive at the hospital – here’s what you should know about how telemedicine is used in the hospital especially in light of the coronavirus.
With the coronavirus, telemedicine’s biggest role may be in capacity management for the nation’s healthcare system. For those isolated at home, it gives them access to medical advice and treatment without putting an additional burden on the hospitals. For hospitals, it will help care for patients in a safer more efficient way that does not take too many healthcare workers out of the mix because due to infection.
Additionally, using acute telemedicine, emergency rooms can see some relief and overcrowding from other patients by quickly screening and providing access to specialists for other areas that acute telemedicine can treat like teleNeurology for stroke care and telePsychiatry care.
Background:
SOC Telemed transforms healthcare by offering patients increased access to the highest quality care via a technology-enabled platform. SOC Telemed partners 600 hospitals and healthcare systems across the country bringing clinicians and patients together using innovative technologies to improve clinical care and patient outcomes in a measurable way.