Telehealth is one of the earliest and the most famous establishments of the medical sector. In the late 1960s, it first began as a form of healthcare delivery. It was because of the needs of NASA, according to the papers which were published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. In recent years healthcare reforms have pushed the spread of telehealth and other technological advancements. The Health Resource Services Administration states that telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunications technology. It is used to support long-distance clinical healthcare, patient and professional health-related education, public health, and health administration. The devices that record and transmit vital signs and remote communication are samples of healthcare activities and applications that reach beyond clinical care.

Telehealth is a platform for affordable online counseling. It offers itself to both, the first care and a specialist. It allowing them to enhance their reach, treating you and me wherever we are with an online connection. Telehealth platforms have traditionally launched from a health system because they typically have the overhead to get large equipment and complicated digital technology. It provides the best services from the comfort of our home. It also allows us to talk to the therapist now. Online healthcare increases our involvement with remote monitoring and expands access to care. Telehealth cuts down on the money and time that we spend in seeking healthcare. With this technology, the doctor involves with us through phone, laptop, or any other digital device. It is additionally being used to avoid unnecessary Emergency room visits. Along which it improves the convenience of receiving treatments without long-distance traveling.

Up-gradations 

Secure messaging: 

Direct exchange is a way of sending a secure email using HIPAA-compliant standards. They are now part of certified EHR technology (CEHRT). We already have this capability in our EHR (emergency health room. This function’s just like the regular email but is more secure and is certified by @Direct in the email addresses. The direct exchange makes it easier for the specialists to send messages securely amongst each other and also to us getting the treatment.

Virtual assistance: 

This is not often a subdomain of machine learning but rather an application of variety. Virtual assistance such as Amazon’s Alexa and Echo devices or Google Assistant are a few we have already interacted with. Linking up such devices to telehealth platforms makes the process easier for both the specialist and for us as well. Instead of going back to the old conversations, the specialist gets a helping hand with the virtual assistance to get the information he/she requires. 

Improving diagnosis: 

Often diagnosis over a digital platform can be subjective. Where one of us can get the right treatment and diagnosis the other may not be able to. This happens because of a lack of proper information provided to the specialist. Sometimes while conversing over a digital platform such as video conferencing or through a call we might lose out on an important symptom. This leads to misdiagnosis. Misdiagnosis has the potential to approach overall costs to the overall health care system also. So, the better the clarity between us and the specialty the better diagnosis.

Electronic medical records: 

A PHR (Personal Health Record) holds a collection of data about your health that you can simply control or maintain. There are PHR apps that help you and me to keep a track of our health. The collaboration of this with the telehealth platform is an easier form for the diagnosis of any illness. During an emergency, this can quickly give emergency personnel vital information such as drug allergies and even your doctor’s contact information.

Billing solutions: 

The AMA reported that telehealth is growing faster than any other type of medical care, experiencing a 53% growth in a 2019 study. A variety of external factors triggered it. To start with the billing cycle, providers must first clear the utilization of telehealth with our insurance firm or the other payer. Along with this, service providers should add reimbursement and coverage for medicinal services as a part of billing solutions. 

Cumulative patient portal: 

Portals initially served only giant hospitals but now are an important telehealth tool for little facilities and personal practices also. This encourages better physician-patient relations and more in the treatment. Through this lab results are checked, insurance information is updated and prescription refills are requested.

Conclusion

While there are many challenges, there are also some positive results of the implementation of technological services. Telehealth has reached the very far ends of the world over the past few years. With upcoming technologies, telehealth has also improved and has affordable online counseling. With all other services upgrading day by day this sector has improved a lot. It comes easy and handy in the comfort of our homes. Improved diagnosis, secure messaging and other such services have an awaited up-gradation and are also enhancing its services every day. With telehealth technological services, we can talk to the therapist now. Getting the best online therapy experience.