The Telehealth market has been growing by leaps and bounds during the past few years, and it appears that growth is here to stay. According to a recent report, the Telehealth market could be worth as much as $380 billion by 2030. The report indicates that people have been widely accepting of Telehealth and that it provides a wide variety of benefits to patients and doctors alike. What are some of the biggest reasons why this market has continued to grow, and what does it mean for the future of medical care as a whole?
An Opportunity To Take Care of More Patients
One of the most significant benefits of the Telehealth market is that it provides a more significant opportunity to care for patients. In the past, many people who lived in rural areas had a very difficult time scheduling an appointment with a doctor. Because there are not as many doctors living in rural areas, it was tough for patients to access the required care. Now, doctors can expand their patient bases because they do not necessarily have to worry about limiting themselves to patients in the immediate geographic vicinity. By removing barriers to patient care, doctors can take care of a larger number of patients.
Greater Flexibility for Patients
Of course, this also means that there is greater flexibility for patients. Patients now have multiple options if they need to schedule an appointment with a doctor. This is particularly true if they require special care. Patients do not need to worry about taking an entire day off of work to schedule a doctor’s appointment. If the appointment is only half an hour, they can simply block off that time and talk with the doctor using a video camera. Then, they can go right back to what they were doing. This type of flexibility is beneficial.
Infection Control Issues
Infectious control has also been a significant area of focus during the past few years. During the coronavirus pandemic, it was important for medical professionals to continue to provide preventive care for their patients. They also needed to address the acute care concerns, but they did not necessarily want to risk exposing their patients to a virus in the waiting room. With access to Telehealth, patients can get the care they need without exposing themselves to other people in the waiting room. This means that it is easier to control the spread of infections with the help of Telehealth visits.
Easier Patient Follow-Up Visits
Telehealth also makes it much easier for doctors to conduct follow-up visits. Sometimes, doctors wonder if it is worth calling someone back to the office for a simple follow-up visit. Now, doctors can have that follow-up visit using Telehealth, which makes it much easier to keep an eye on their patient population. Even though there are some concerns related to insurance coverage, as the vast majority of insurance providers do not necessarily cover Telehealth visits, other coverage options are available. For example, some people might be able to get reimbursed for therapy through their employers.
Greater Collaboration Between Specialists
Telehealth visits also make it much easier for specialists to communicate with one another. Today, medicine is very much a team sport. It is not unusual for a single patient to have an entire team of doctors participating in their care. Telehealth makes it much easier for specialists to communicate with one another. They can coordinate care, make sure the right diagnosis is made, and ensure the appropriate treatment plan is administered. Furthermore, patients no longer have to worry about struggling to get specialty care. They can schedule an appointment with a specialist virtually, which can remove potential gaps in the treatment plan.
The Telehealth Market Will Only Continue To Grow in the Next Few Years
These are just a few of the biggest reasons why the Telehealth market has proliferated during the past few years. There are tremendous opportunities available for patients who might otherwise have difficulty scheduling an appointment with a doctor. At the same time, Telehealth is still a relatively new area of the medical market, which is why it is essential for people to make sure they have an insurance plan that provides coverage for all of their Telehealth visits. As it becomes clear that Telehealth benefits both doctors and patients, insurance companies may start covering Telehealth in the future; however, until that time, it is important for patients to make sure they understand all of the options available to them.
