The challenges and struggles that Covid-19 has brought upon our everyday lives have led to telehealth to be in the front and center for patients and physicians. Today, telehealth is no longer a nice-to-have, but a must-have for patients and healthcare professionals. Here’s why telehealth will continue being a staple of modern-day patient care, even in a post-pandemic world.
1. High Patient Demand
When given a choice, patients prefer virtual visits with their doctors instead of having to visit the nearest clinic or hospital. A study has shown that telemedicine has become a preferred approach for patients as compared to a traditional in-person visit, by a very apparent margin.
Not only is telehealth convenient, but it also delivers quick access to their care providers while staying comfortable at home. As doctors are frequently on the lookout for ways to improve and refine patients’ experiences, telemedicine will continue representing an essential part of the mix to meet their patients’ ideal preference, and to be aligned with this growing trend.
2. Flexibility And Convenience
Undoubtedly, telemedicine is beneficial for both doctors and patients. Through a digital platform, it provides online doctors with the flexibility to effectively manage their patient schedule, and a small-time commitment is required from patients since they can attend the appointment from home.
Another prominent factor is how time telehealth saves patients a lot more time, eliminating the time spent travelling to the clinic or hospital. This allows doctors to dedicate more time to diagnosing and treating patients. Adding on, physicians can also check in on their patients in between appointments to deliver care conveniently. Evidently, telehealth gives doctors the potential to maximise their time tending to more patients without compromising the quality of care.
3. Health Equity
Healthcare is not evenly distributed around the globe, and unfortunately, not everyone has access to it. For those residing in rural communities, the nearest hospital or clinic may be hours away. The pace of innovation in healthcare is accelerating, and the current pandemic helps boost this pace.
With that said, we have 14 public hospitals, 9 private hospitals and 20 polyclinics in Singapore – and the number is set to grow. Our healthcare facilities are located throughout neighbourhoods, and they are sufficient and well-equipped to cater to the population effectively. However, many can still benefit from having a more convenient access to healthcare, especially the elderly, starting from online medical consultations.
As digital health companies continue prioritising efforts towards enhancing their tools, future advances in virtual care products are expected to be more readily accessible, benefiting many others. These tools will be a more viable option for more types of healthcare appointments, even after the pandemic ends. The Covid-19 pandemic has driven innovation in telehealth, and now, patients can simply see a doctor with only a smartphone.
Conclusion
To further enhance your telehealth experience, download the MyCLNQ mobile app which provides a host of digital healthcare services. Available on Google Play and App Store, you can find and book private ambulance services, identify the nearest and earliest available clinic in Singapore, and receive other healthcare needs within your fingertips!
Especially for non-urgent cases which do not require an in-person visit with a doctor, you can now save time and effort with our secure and stable video and audio connections, and have your medicine delivered right to your doorstep.