Friday, January 6, 2012

Telemedicine championed as cost-efficient tool for better healthcare

According to Dr. Cathleen Carr, executive director of CerfifiedCare.org, video conferencing services used for telemedicine practices can improve the quality of care for homebound patients while reducing costs for both patients and providers.

Carr said it is very expensive and disruptive to call an ambulance when an elderly patient needs to see a doctor in a non-emergency situation. Deploying video conferencing solutions is affordable and saves money in the long run.



"We should be insisting that video conferencing technology be used for home healthcare and for non-emergency visits," Carr said. "Allowing the patient to talk to a doctor in the comfort of their own home is a great way to maintain their own health and wellness."

Carr said telemedicine not only replaces doctor visits but also enhances patient care through continuous monitoring outside of a hospital setting. Patients can also interact with providers in real time to have their questions answered and feel secure in their treatment.

Many technology companies are working on developing new solutions to enhance video conferencing services for the healthcare industry. Ringadoc Telehealth Physician Consultation Service recently released new applications for their video conferencing doctor consultation software for mobile devices. Patients can use the apps to speak with their physician directly from any location using audio and video conferencing technology.

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