When I decided to enter the world of telemedicine, just over a year ago, I did not imagine the important role that this modality of providing remote medical services would play during the unexpected pandemic of COVID-19.
Since the middle of March, when the number of cases in the United States skyrocketed, the number of patients who used telemedicine to seek medical attention for their ailments or to ask questions about the coronavirus and symptoms increased. associated with the disease.
Many also use this service to reorder medications for chronic conditions, as they do not currently have access to their primary doctors or specialists. And it is that some doctors and dentists have been forced to close their offices or to limit the number of patients who attend to the day due to the pandemic. Other health professionals attend only “emergencies.” As a result, many patients are suddenly without access to medical and dental care.
However, some private practices have resorted to using telemedicine to care for their patients with stable chronic conditions, which do not necessarily require a physical examination.
The avalanche of patients seeking medical care online has exposed the need for more doctors to offer their services through cyber channels. Many telemedicine companies have been forced to hire more doctors, and the government has temporarily relaxed licensing restrictions that only allowed doctors to serve patients only in states where they are licensed.
I have to admit that when this whole coronavirus emergency began, I felt insecure about attending visits related to COVID-19 as it is a disease that has been unknown until now, which presents multiple symptoms and complications. Fortunately, the telemedicine companies I work for have taken it upon themselves to educate their doctors on the latest in COVID-19 and have created helpful and easy-to-follow guides.
It is interesting that virtual visits have not been limited to queries about the coronavirus, but many are related to problems directly or indirectly related to quarantine, such as muscle spasms caused by spending long time in front of a computer or doing some new activity. physical at home. I have also cared for patients who are anxious or depressed with the situation of social isolation.
Thanks to this COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has gained importance and value that had previously not been recognized. Despite offering many advantages, especially in these times when social distancing is promoted, telemedicine also has some limitations that I will address shortly.
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