Telemedicine has become one of the formidable competitors in the delivery of healthcare due to its potential benefits, such as being cost-effective and accessible. Telemedicine has also evolved as a revolutionary technology that has challenged the conventional method of in-person visits. Its introduction in the healthcare field was a turning point in the delivery of cost-effective and convenient healthcare, notably since it eliminated the need for the physical presence of both the patient and the healthcare provider (Chen et al., 987). The history of telemedicine can be traced back to theto the advent of telecommunication technologies, specifically the thetelephone. The telephones laid the groundwork and initial phase of telemedicine by ensuring that healthcare providersproviders can offer patients medical advice. As communication technologies advanced and became more sophisticated, so did telemedicine, which has also transformed to include video conferencing. The widespread connectivity with the internet has also marked the turning point for telemedicine, allowing seamless exchange between patients and healthcare providers. In addition, the recent COVID-19 pandemic was a trigger that resulted in the widespread use and acceptance of telemedicine. This research paper will utilize a cause-and-effect analysis to explore why Telemedicine is better in healthcare delivery than person visits. Telemedicine has emerged as a better and more beneficial healthcare technology in care delivery than in-person visits.
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Telemedicine is very accessible and convenient since it allows patients to get healthcare services while in the comfort of their home settings. According to Reed et al., telemedicine benefits patients facing challenges and difficulties while commuting or are economically challenged (681). Since patients can seek healthcare in remote locations, including rural and geographical areas that are challenging to navigate, this access saves on the patient time needed to travel and costs, making it more beneficial than in-person visits. In one study that evaluated patient satisfaction with telemedicine, the findings showed that the introduction of telehealth in the public healthcare system resulted in increased access and patient satisfaction attributable to cost savings and accessibility (Chen et al. 987). As a result of increased access to many people, early intervention measures and preventive care are promoted, which leads to better healthcare outcomes. Liu et al. also conducted a study that compared telemedicine and in-person visits’ impacts on healthcare utilization; the findings showed that telemedicine was associated with increased frequency of hospital utilization, including emergency care visits, demonstrating expanded access to care (1102).
Telemedicine is also flexible, which means its schedule can allow many patients to access care simultaneously, increasing access. Telemedicine ensures that individuals use time efficiently since it eliminates the waiting times and booking appointments that often characterize in-person visits. The faster appointments and flexibility that telemedicine offers allow many individuals to seek healthcare services. No doubt, telemedicine is available throughout the day, and this benefit goes beyond the traditional office visits, which often limit access during the daytime. Healthcare professionals using telemedicine to provide care can schedule care at any time of the day when it is most convenient for them, which also applies to patients who have unlimited access to healthcare professionals, and this improves responsiveness to emergency care concerns. This enhanced accessibility also means that patients do not have to travel to healthcare facilities to seek care for urgent medical issues. Research shows that telemedicine is more beneficial for post-operative follow-up, specifically in neurosurgical situations, due to the optimization of resource utilization and improvement in healthcare access.
Due to its convenience and 24-hour availability, telemedicine is better in managing chronic conditions than in-person visits. Healthcare providers can continuously monitor patient conditions, for example, diabetes, and implement timely interventions, which results in better glucose monitoring and, thus, better health outcomes. One study comparing telemedicine with in-person visits for patients with multiple sclerosis showed that telemedicine was feasible in providing both cost, feasibility, and satisfaction to the patients compared to in-person visits (Robb et al. 1102). In addition, healthcare providers can provide ongoing guidance and support to patients regardless of location, leading to enhanced quality of life.
The effects of increased convenience lead to higher patient engagement. The convenience of telemedicine allows patients to schedule and book appointments based on their schedules. This flexibility also improves patient engagement since barriers that often limit patients from having medical care, such as rigid appointment hours and geographical barriers, are eliminated, thus better than in-person visits. The ease of communication between patients and healthcare providers ensures that patients are more likely to engage in ongoing conversations, which is integral in promoting more patient care, which translates to better patient outcomes. According to Reeds et al., the various forms of telemedicine aallow patients to engage through convenient healthcare access, specifically,for individuals who ffacegeographical barriers with in-person visits (6). In addition, the study by Reed et al. also showed that telemedicine is particularly convenient for vulnerable groups and patients in low socioeconomic backgrounds since it eliminates travel barriers and visits to physicians c7). Consequently, the convenience of accessing healthcare is associated with enhanced compliance with treatment plans, for example, regular follow-ups and checks, which ensures better monitoring of treatment regimens and plans. This is particularly crucial for patients with chronic conditions who often require continuous monitoring and check –ups to ensure medication and treatment adherence.
Telemedicine is also associated with significant cost savings compared to in-person visits, particularly for the patient. Patients save on direct costs since they do not have to travel to hospital settings to seek healthcare services. This eliminates the need to use transportation costs, making healthcare more affordable. According to Reed et al., a medical-assisted virtual room is found to facilitate patient access to medical care, specifically for those from low socioeconomic status, who have poor English proficiency, and who are either African American or Hispanic (681). Patients who are economically challenged can get healthcare services since telemedicine access requires only network access and a technology gadget for online communications, such as a smartphone.
The significant cost implications also arise since telemedicine aids in early intervention and disease prevention, which lowers long-term healthcare costs. Research shows that virtual house calls (VHC), which is a form of telemedicine that involves conducting clinical visits remotely with the aid of an audio-visual connection while the patient is at home for patients with multiple sclerosis, leads to significant cost savings while also supporting healthcare access and better disease management (Robb et al. 1011). Remote monitoring of disease, specifically chronic diseases, also prevents disease progression to adverse levels, eliminating the need for expensive treatments and extended tracking. Limiting adverse outcomes also reduces the need for emergency visits and frequent hospitalizations, saving on patients’ healthcare expenses. Since it is easier to follow up on preventive interventions through telemedicine than in-person office visits where a patient has to travel all the time, this remote monitoring prevents disease progression, further averting treatments that are costly to both patients and the healthcare system in general. According to a study published in the Journal of Neurosurgical Focus, telemedicine use for routine care for patients after post-neurosurgical care was effective and less expensive than in-person visits. Cost saving was attributed to telemedicine allowing adequate patient volume, a higher success rate of telemedicine utilization, and patients not having to travel for follow-up.
Patients in remote locations can also get the help of specialists across the country, and this also lowers the cost associated with traveling to seek specialized care. Whenever a patient requires an intervention from a specialist, they can consult them remotely without having to shoulder the finances needed for traveling and accommodation as they await in-person appointments with a specialist. In addition, patient-centered care is possible since the specialist’s focus is on one patient, thus better healthcare outcomes.
As a result of the cost savings, telehealth has enhanced healthcare affordability. Individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds can now have access to healthcare providers with the use of telemedicine. They do not have to bear traveling expenses for in-person visits to the doctors, which has an implications of the overall healthcare costs. According to a study conducted by Robb et al. who compared telemedicine with in-person visits for patients with multiple scheloris, the findings showed that telemedicine offered more cost and time savings, thus resulting in higher participants’ satisfaction scores (1012). The significant cost saving also translates to increased utilization of preventive care. With affordable check-ins and appointments, telemedicine has enabled many people to seek preventive care. As, such, chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes can be identified early, thus better long-term health outcomes of the population. According to Lie et al., telemedicine was associated with more expanded care as patient sought emergency and outpatient care while compared to in-person visits. The cost implications also applies to healthcare providers including the healthcare system. With telemedicine, healthcare providers do not have to have physical infrastructure such having to construct waiting rooms and administrative offices, which ensures they allocate their resources effectively. In addition, they can provide healthcare services while at the comfort of their homes, which also means eliminating transportation costs to offices, which is also convenient and reduces time wastage. On the contrary, healthcare providers can use infrastructure resources towards implementing more advanced technological innovation that will lead to efficient telecommunication between them and the patients. With efficient communication platforms, patients will receive immediate care which is crucial in the long-term cost saving implications.
Telemedicine is also very safe since one does not have to visit a doctor’s office where they will be exposed to infections. Most healthcare settings are full of infections, and as such, when using telemedicine, exposure to such infections is eliminated. Some of the infections are hospital-acquired, which is a prevalent issue in healthcare facilities in the US, and thus while seeking care using telemedicine, a patient cannot contract such infections. Doctors’ offices are often characterized by crowded waiting rooms with patients suffering from myriad conditions, which increases one’s risk of getting infections; however, with telemedicine, one does not have to wait in such rooms; thus, it is safer. According to Reed et al., patients with chronic conditions are often at risk of contracting other infections due to a `compromised immune system, and thus, by using telemedicine, the risk of acquiring other infections is reduced significantly (682).
The virtual nature of telemedicine means that the risk of nosocomial infections is reduced significantly. Conditions such as COVID-19 are spread through patient or surface contacts, and thus, using telemedicine eliminates the risks of getting such infections. Since one has to seek care in the comfort of one’s home, telemedicine mitigates any likelihood of spreading infectious diseases, which is advantageous for both the patient and the healthcare provider. Telemedicine also helps healthcare providers implement infection control measures effectively by limiting any chances of physical contact. Non-urgent medical attention is better managed with telemedicine, which minimizes physical contact between patients and healthcare providers. Patients can also seek care while at home, reducing overcrowding, which increases the risk of infection transmission. Infection control measures such as isolation, social distancing, and quarantine are made possible with the use of telemedicine. Therefore, telemedicine makes it easier for healthcare providers to perform triage systems and control the spread of infection. Patients can seek while adhering to infection control practices at the same time without jeopardizing their safety and that of healthcare providers.
As a result of telemedicine being safer than in-person visits, this has resulted in reduced exposure to patient health risks. Telemedicine allows patients to consult at their homes, and this reduces the need to be physically present in waiting rooms, thus minimizing the risk of infection transmission. This benefit is particularly crucial when there is an outbreak of contagious diseases such as the Covd-19 pandemic and flu which can are threatening conditions on patient safety. Telemedicine is also increasingly used by patients in consulting with various health specialists. Therefore, such patients do not have to physically see a specialists for care which not only enhances specialized care access, but also lowers risk of exposure to infections and pathogens. The healthcare providers also benefits from telemedicine since they do not need to have direct contact with their patients when providing care. According to Chen et al., telemedicine satisfaction scores were also high in providers during the Covid-19 pandemic due to the reduced risks of transmission of coronavirus, thus safeguarding their health and well-being (987). Consequently, with telemedicine, healthcare professionals can monitor patients with chronic conditions ensuring that patients report positive health outcomes which is crucial in enhancing patient satisfaction with care.
Therefore, telemedicine has emerged as better and beneficial healthcare technology in care delivery while compared to in-person visits. The convenience that both patients and provider gets while providing and receiving healthcare services makes the telemedicine more beneficial than in-person visits. This is because patients can schedule appointments, get medical care and continuous monitoring while at the comfort of their home surroundings. Telemedicine also results in significant cost savings since patients do not have to travel long distances to receive care. Also, the healthcare providers do not have to invest on hospital infrastructure, rather can focus on enhancing communication technologies. In addition, its safety as it pertains acquiring infections and implementing infection control measures is critical reason why it is better. By mitigating infection spreads and transmission, telemedicine offers a very ideal healthcare delivery model that is specifically beneficial during pandemics. Therefore, next time you need a doctor, just use your smartphone or laptop to connect with your primary doctor. We cannot discuss about telemedicine benefits while you are not contributing to its extensive application and use. Technology is here to stay and the best thing to do is to adapt and utilize it fully.
Work Cited
Chen, Kevin, Komal Lodaria, and Hannah B. Jackson. “Patient satisfaction with telehealth versus in‐person visits during COVID‐19 at a large, public healthcare system.” Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice 28.6 (2022): 986-990. https://doi.org/10.1111/jep.13770
Liu, Xiang, et al. “Comparison of telemedicine versus in-person visits on the impact of downstream utilization of care.” Telemedicine and e-Health 27.10 (2021): 1099-1104. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2020.0286
Reed, Mary E., et al. “Patient characteristics associated with choosing a telemedicine visit vs office visit with the same primary care clinicians.” JAMA Network Open 3.6 (2020): e205873-e205873. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.5873
Robb, Jessica F., Megan H. Hyland, and Andrew D. Goodman. “Comparison of telemedicine versus in-person visits for persons with multiple sclerosis: a randomized crossover study of feasibility, cost, and satisfaction.” Multiple sclerosis and related disorders 36 (2019): 101258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2019.05.001
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