What Is Telehealth?
Telehealth services use digital information and communication technology to manage health care efficiently and remotely. In a world where people increasingly rely on technology, bringing healthcare services online has been a significant step forward, improving mobility, productivity, and accessibility for both providers and patients.
The rise of telehealth was especially valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people were asked to stay inside their homes. Through e-health services, patients could still consult with their providers from the comfort of home, catching updates on their health without the traffic, travel time, and hassle of an in-person visit.
Portals, Apps, and Virtual Visits
Telehealth works in a few different ways. Many clinics offer an online portal where patients can request prescriptions, talk to a nurse, review test results and summaries, and schedule visits or preventive-care appointments, a safer, more convenient channel than email.
There are also various health applications that let patients keep their health information secure in one place. These apps can schedule medication reminders and record vital signs and physical activity, keeping patients engaged in their own care between visits.
Telehealth and Physical Therapy
Telehealth has proven its usefulness and effectiveness across the medical industry, but limitations remain, particularly for physical-oriented specialties. Medical professionals can't perform hands-on physical assessments over a screen, and without that guidance some patients turn to self-medication, which can affect an accurate diagnosis.
Even so, on-screen assessment and exercise instruction have proven doable through telehealth, or physical teletherapy. Physical therapy normally involves touching, stretching, and manipulating a patient's joints and muscles, all of which were impossible during the pandemic, yet telehealth allowed PTs to reach patients recovering from COVID-19 and other illnesses, providing exercise instruction that helped them heal, regain strength, and move more freely again.
Preparing for a Virtual Session
When you schedule a virtual session with a physical therapist, a few things will help the visit go smoothly: a good internet connection, enough open space for your therapist to see how your body moves, good lighting, and someone to assist you if needed.
A Great Adjunct for the Future
Telehealth is a great adjunct to in-person care and continues to improve, extending more medical services to more people, even those that traditionally required a physical assessment or evaluation. It helps medical professionals stay focused on patient outcomes while minimizing the risks and costs of travel and increasing access to care for people who need it, near and far.