How telemedicine protects patients and practices from communicable diseases

Communicable diseases spread from person to person through contact with an infected person, contaminated objects, blood and other body fluids, breathing in an airborne virus etc. It includes Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, HIV AIDS, measles and many more and also the most prevalent these days i.e. COVID-19 disease.
In this difficult time especially for the healthcare system, telemedicine comes as a relief both for the healthcare provider organizations and the patients.
Now, it is being used in a number of ways during the pandemic and its contribution to the healthcare sector cannot be neglected. Although, it has certain some limitations benefits are more. These days when the pandemic is causing great havocs telemedicine is serving as a bridge among the physicians and patients enabling health systems to perform effectively thereby ensuring everyone’s safety such as communicating with patients through virtual channels without visiting health facilities.

Its use nowadays is related to the COVID-19 disease outbreak as the increasing cases of respiratory illness overburden the medical facilities but telemedicine is an alternative to prevent traditional office visits thus enhancing virtual care. It tends to fulfil many objectives as protecting patients and medical practitioners with easy access to care, preventing spread of infections, ease burden on care providers, and efficient control of medical practices over their schedule.

Telemedicine accounts for More Convenient Access to patients

In this time one’s schedule is so occupied that it becomes difficult to make appointments instantly. And for those living at remote areas with very limited access to medical facilities, it becomes more difficult to pay visits. Besides, the common cold or flu cannot be distinguished from the deadly new virus without a doctor’s assessment and it can only worsen and spread to others.

Therefore, telemedicine eases the access of clients seeking medical care by connecting them with the doctors by scheduling a video chat as per their convenience. It includes a thorough patient’s assessment with the help of screening questions to gather essential information and may even connect the medical device with video conferences to diagnose the disease. Not only this but the medicines are also prescribed to the patient and sent to the local nearest pharmacy. More serious patients are advised for in-office visits or can be referred to as specialists. In case coronavirus is suspected then the patient is advised for immediate quarantine and to notify the local or state health departments.

As medical care is sought through Televisits from home and thus prevent the spread of germs in certain ways such as in public transportation, doctor’s waiting room, and other healthcare staff and patients. It also ensures proper isolation of potentially infectious patients. As the follow-up visits are more convenient virtually patient adheres with them and timely communication with their providers hence increasing chances for a complete and speedy recovery.

Virtual care prevent spread of diseases

As discussed so far that virtual care ensures clients stay at home during their treatment course thereby reducing the risk of transmission of infections from the infected to healthy ones. In other words, more the number of contagious people roaming around more the spread of the communicable disease will take place. Also, health care facilities can be responsible for acquiring infections for healthy or mildly ill clients. So, it is concluded that virtual care plays a significant role by minimizing social interactions to prevent the spread of diseases.

Telemedicine Eases Burden on Provider Practices


It has always been difficult for the health care providers to accommodate all of the patients in times of crisis such as a disease outbreak. In times such as COVID-19, the frontline workers i.e. doctors, nurses and other members of the health team also are at great risk of acquiring the infection under the burden of increased visit volume. They have to be careful to limit their exposure with their family and friends. Besides, as care providers, they also have to fulfil the responsibility of caring for their patients with immediate needs and at the same time protecting the other patients.

Here also comes the role of remote visits preventing transmission of disease and promoting individuals health overall. Televisits are utilized for attending to patients and maintaining distance from them along with documentation of their medical record. Thus, physicians can treat more number of patients in this way and can also avoid in-office visits. At last, telemedicine ease the access for care to clients, prevent disease transmissions and reduces overburden for the health care providers.

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