How Technology Could Give You Greater Access to Health Care

Featured article by Cher Zevala, Independent Technology Author

Health care has changed a lot over the last few decades, but one thing that will never change is the need for access. While technology has increased the quality of health care exponentially, access to that care still remains a big problem for many people in the U.S.

It’s not just a matter of paying for care, either; many people simply can’t find a practitioner to administer the care they need. That’s especially true for people in remote, rural areas.

Communications technology is changing all that. Now, thanks to videoconferencing software, mobile apps, and wearable devices, anyone with internet access can consult with primary care providers (PCPs) and even specialists who live far away. PCPs can provide a broader range of services now that they can consult specialists more easily. Wearable devices allow doctors to remotely monitor vital signs, including blood pressure and blood sugar. With the help of mobile apps and web platforms, patients are better able to access detailed health records and take control of their own health.

Telemedicine Brings Specialists to You

It used to be that, for many Americans, consulting with a medical specialist meant traveling to a distant city where they could talk to the doctor face-to-face. Now, that isn’t always the case. Thanks to advances in telemedicine, patients and PCPs in the most remote parts of the country can benefit from specialists’ knowledge without leaving home. It’s as simple as videoconferencing with the far-away doctor through a platform similar to Skype or Facetime.

This approach saves patients the time and money they would spend traveling to see a specialist. In many cases, the specialist may be able to advise the attending PCP on how to treat or manage the patient’s condition, or at the very least, can streamline the referral process and help ensure that the patient gets the right referral the first time.

Thanks to virtual continuing education platforms, rural PCPs can enhance their knowledge of treating specialty conditions, allowing patients to receive treatment in their home communities. This can improve patient outcomes, since it enables them to maintain vital social support networks and reduce or eliminate the stress of traveling for treatment far away.

Mobile Tech Improves Quality of Care

Doctors these days are stretched thin. They have more patients to care for than ever, and not much time to sit down and talk with patients when they do see them. The provider shortage is one of the biggest public health crises facing Americans today, and it’s one you’ll learn to tackle when you enroll in a master’s program to study public health.

Mobile apps and wearable tech are easing the burden on doctors and helping improve patient compliance. Wearable devices allow doctors to monitor blood sugar, blood pressure, and other vital signs, so they can see how patients are doing in between visits and determine whether treatment appears to be working.

Mobile apps can help patients take control of their health by reminding them when to take medication, helping them track physical activity and nutrition information, and giving them an easy way to monitor their own vital information, including blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar levels.

The internet has also given patients a greater degree of access to their own health information. Electronic health records allow patients to communicate with members of their care team, schedule appointments, and access detailed medical records. Patients are also more empowered to keep their own personal health records, or PHRs, which they can use to obtain a higher quality of care.

Technology Is Cutting Health Care Costs

Perhaps the biggest benefit of telemedicine is that it is drastically reducing the cost of care. More patients are receiving preventative and primary care, which can nip expensive chronic conditions in the bud.

They’re also spending less on specialists, since they can receive this care without leaving their communities. Remote patient monitoring, virtual doctor visits, and mobile apps for health and disease management could mean more lives saved, better patient outcomes, and fewer readmissions to hospitals across the board, all at a lower cost. With more resources at their disposal, doctors and patients in rural areas are expected to work together much more effectively.

If you’ve ever struggled to find health care in your community, you’ll be happy to know that telemedicine is making it easier than ever to find care — even specialty care — and at a lower cost, to boot. Soon, you, too, could be benefiting from remote patient monitoring or video consultations with a specialist. The results you’ll reap will include better health, and greater peace of mind.