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TeleMedicine, the Future of Health Care in Rural Communities

Among insurance companies and in the healthcare community, telehealth and telemedicine are gaining acceptance and popularity at a steadily increasing rate. Telehealth is the method of collecting information and methodology to enhance public health, public healthcare, and public health information. Telemedicine, on the other hand, is the clinical application of technology in the medical field including the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients and illnesses. How do these health care technologies benefit patients and physicians in rural communities?

  1. Physicians in rural or remote areas can take advantage of the skills and experience of specialists in urgent and critical care situations. The ability to share symptoms and receive additional insights into patient short-term diagnosis and long-term care is a cost effective, quality of life enhancing advantage of telehealth and telemedicine technology. This benefits health insurance companies, patients, and doctors.
  2. Patients see improved management of chronic diseases when physicians use telehealth and telemedicine technology. A primary care physician who treats patients with chronic diseases will find it easier to keep up with disease management techniques and advances. Patients will also benefit from receiving the most up-to-date disease and potential pain management.
  3. Telehealth and telemedicine also greatly reduces the cost of rural health care for patients and physicians. This happens because patients are able to avoid costly travel accommodations to larger communities and avoid expensive hospital stays. Physicians are able to avoid costly referrals and aggravations that might inhibit patient care and eliminate unnecessary suffering. Additionally, they avoid adding stress and passing on expenses to patients for bringing in specialists.
  4. There are many telemedical devices that make remote patient monitoring an accessible, affordable option. Once these medical technology devices transmit vital information to larger medical facilities, knowledgeable experts and specialists can return prompt information and assist in accurate, speedy diagnoses for patients and doctors. Health insurance costs go down when this technology is put into place.
  5. Online and other remote medical communities offer camaraderie and shared learning. The online communities created when telehealth and telemedicine connect remote medical communities to their big city counterparts benefit everyone involved. That means much more than just easier diagnoses and treatment. It means doctors at both levels gain insight into varying patient care, more effective treatments, and physician bedside manner. It allows rural health care providers access to needed medical resources and technologies while giving medical researchers and doctors in large hospitals and research facilities the ability to see, identify and meet the needs of smaller communities.

Telehealth and telemedicine close the gap between rural health care providers and the patients they treat. It brings far away medical services to communities in regions of the world that might otherwise feel isolated from the medical community at large. This ensures that patients receive the best care available at the time they need it most. Patients and physicians avoid long travel times, lengthy appointments, and specialist referrals and appointment conflicts.

Click here to learn more about Healthy Benefits Health Insurance and their commitment to advanced medical treatment and technology including telehealth and telemedicine technology. You’ll learn everything you need to know to confidently offer this insurance package and this vital service to your employees. This medical necessity is part of the standard offering in the plans we offer because we believe health care is best served when it meets the needs of the communities who need it most.