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As we have weathered the pandemic, the utilization of telehealth has provided a much needed platform for patients and providers alike to be able to connect as well as perform. However, telehealth has quickly evolved from what was a temporary lifeline to what is now an industry-standard necessity when it comes to stabilizing service delivery. That is why today we are discussing the persistent relevance of telehealth and how patient engagement continues to adapt to the progressive needs of the healthcare industry.
The New Age of Telemedicine
Telemedicine, most commonly known as telehealth, has long been exalted as the future of healthcare well before the pandemic hit; however, covid-19 has certainly confirmed and even escalated the truth behind that claim. Now, we are told that telemedicine is projected to grow to a $175 billion dollar industry by 2026 alone. Many reasons play a role in this occurrence such as expanded accessibility to patients and providers alike, increased consumer demand, decreased barriers to utilization, enhanced continuity of care and much more.
During the pandemic, legal hurdles such as strict medicare and insurance regulations were temporarily removed to allow providers across the board to care for patients regardless of where they reside, which in turn lifted the veil and helped us understand how imperative certain practices and communities need better accessibility to healthcare services.
Furthermore, telemedicine has provided the opportunity not only for patients and providers to meet for initial service, but has also allowed them to continue to touch base throughout the patients’ entire healthcare journey. Case in point – many patients are willing to go to the doctor for check-ups or for certain symptomatic issues especially when situations are dire, but finding the time to go to follow-up appointments proves to be difficult, especially in cases where multiple follow-ups are required.
Telemedicine makes it easy to check-in with healthcare providers for both brief updates as well as in-depth reviews or care provisions. Essentially, this has paved the way for providers to significantly elevate patient care which of course improves clinical retention and boosts patient satisfaction.
For more information on how Raintree’s telehealth tools have evolved to meet the needs set by covid-19, check out our blog post on advancements made over the course of the pandemic.
By the Stats
While no one can say for sure what the post-covid world will look like, it is clear that we will continue to progress with telehealth technology as it becomes an essential component of the healthcare industry. A recent survey by Black Book Market Research found that 59% of consumer respondents are more likely to use telehealth services now than previously. Furthermore, 33% stated that they would leave their current provider for another who actually offered telehealth access.
The mainstream adoption of telehealth is inevitable, which leads us to express how important it is for providers to utilize the best tools available. In fact, 69% of patients are more likely to opt for telehealth options if the technology offered by the provider is easy-to-use.
If you’re ready to upgrade or learn more about telehealth, be sure to check out our webpage here – or reach out to us directly and we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have!