How Telemedicine is Effective for Treating Chronic Conditions

For healthcare providers and patients across the country, chronic disease management has become a serious concern. For the uninitiated, a chronic disease is anything that usually lasts for at least three months (or longer), such as cancer or type II diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, around 53 percent of all deaths in India are attributed to chronic diseases, which highlight the seriousness of such ailments, and the importance of treating chronic conditions.

Some of the most commonly observed chronic diseases include diabetes, cancer, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, mental illness, and pulmonary conditions, and in a world that is still coming to grips with the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has become the most effective way to treat chronic conditions.

Over the past few months, we have been confined to our homes, while senior citizens in particular have been discouraged from stepping out of their rooms. Healthcare providers have been trying to come up with innovative ways for chronic disease management while ensuring high quality of care.

During these unprecedented times, telemedicine, along with remote patient monitoring has become commonplace, where the patients remotely talk to their doctors via live audio and video. This has also eliminated the need for in-person consultations, as patients can now use smart devices such as their smartphones and tablets to talk to their doctors and physicians.

In an effort to digitize everything, and promote telemedicine, and telehealth, the Indian government recently announced the ‘One Nation One Health Card’ scheme, where the health records of people who sign up are safely stored in digital format for convenience and ease of access. As the world gets back to the ‘new normal’ following the pandemic, telemedicine has seen its popularity sky-rocket, and for good reasons.

How telemedicine is effective in treating chronic conditions

According to reports, the Indian rural population is anywhere between 85 crore - 89 crore and many patients in such areas do not have access to proper healthcare facilities. They have to travel long distances to visit a doctor, physician, or specialist, which can be a hassle for patients suffering from chronic illnesses. Furthermore, patients suffering from chronic illnesses often require specialized care while undergoing treatment, which is difficult to find in rural areas.

However, telemedicine can act as the bridge between the patients and the care providers, as patients can now seek treatment from the comfort of their homes. Not only does telemedicine increase the patient’s chances of talking to a specialist, along with the access to specialized care, but it also significantly cuts down on the costs involved, such as travel and lodging expenses. Patients suffering from chronic diseases could also see their health worsen if they don’t get frequent check-ups done, which can be availed with greater ease owing to telemedicine.

Diagnose new symptoms and eliminate the need for readmissions

Patients suffering from chronic illnesses may exhibit new symptoms from time-to-time, which could either be a sign of their condition deteriorating, or it could be a new condition rearing its ugly head. This could deter patients from traveling long distances, which can be avoided through telemedicine. By talking to their doctors via video, patients can quickly bring their doctors or care providers up to speed about the new symptom, and receive treatment or care in a timely manner.

Another major advantage of telemedicine is the fact that it significantly reduces the rate of hospital readmissions, which can prove to be an expensive affair for the patients. With specialists and doctors being able to remotely monitor the patient’s progress, they can help the patient stick to a treatment schedule, which eliminates the need to get readmitted.

As we continue to rely on technology, innovative services like telemedicine offer us greater flexibility and convenience. Telemedicine is gaining more popularity, and because of the pandemic, most of the patients suffering from chronic conditions have had to rely on telemedicine for consultation, treatment, and chronic disease management.

If you are suffering from chronic disease(s), but haven’t been regularly consulting with your doctor or physician fearing exorbitant bills, health card like the Bajaj Finserv Digital Health EMI Network Card can now come to your aid. With a pre-approved limit of up to 4 lakh, the Health EMI Network Card lets you convert all the expenses into convenient monthly installments, which you can pay over a period of 24 months.