Here’s How TeleMedicine is Beneficial for Everyone
With the evolution of telecommunication technology, the healthcare sector in India is also undergoing various changes. One of the most notable additions is the inclusion of telemedicine services in many reputed clinics and healthcare organizations. A part of the larger telehealth services, telemedicine, concerns offering quality healthcare to patients remotely.
How is telemedicine different from traditional consultations?
Telemedicine refers to a form of patient care where doctors use telecommunication technology to provide the necessary services. It means that your physician will connect with you over the phone or on video calls rather than meeting face to face. While tele health refers to a broader term, one can classify all telemedicine services as an important part of such healthcare.
The benefits of telemedicine are not restricted to the patient alone. Instead, physicians and practitioners also benefit from the same.
Benefits of telemedicine for patients
Individuals who suffer from severe illnesses or disorders can greatly benefit from telemedicine services due to their convenient access. Here are some ways in which one can leverage such technology to ensure better healthcare quality –
- Patients do not need to commute to consult doctors
Severe illnesses or injuries can prevent one from traveling long distances to visit a physician. Telemedicine ensures that, in such a case, he/she is not devoid of quality medical care and treatment. Even when one is unable to visit, he/she can always schedule a video meeting with the primary physician, allowing for quicker recovery.
- Reduces associated expenses
Since individuals no longer need to visit the clinic in person to consult with doctors, it will automatically cut down commute-related expenses. When such a thing happens, the patient can easily save a considerable amount, which they would have otherwise spent on fuel, clinic visit or any other infrastructure-related charges.
- Limits chances of contracting diseases
Clinics are places where individuals of all ages need to visit. Some of them can be suffering from communicable conditions, which can spread to others present there. Thus, one is always under such a risk of affliction when going to consult the physician, especially an individual with a compromised immune system.
Tele health allows one to limit contact with others who may be suffering from such diseases. It eventually reduces one’s risk of infection as well.
Benefits of telemedicine for doctors
Physicians can also benefit extensively by adopting the telemedicine model. Here are some ways in which doctors and other healthcare providers can take advantage of this model of treatment –
- Improves revenue for clinics
Consultations over video calls and phone calls tend to be more efficient than in person. Thus, physicians can see more patients in a day using telemedicine than they would have otherwise. Thus, a streamlined consultation ensures increased revenue generation for the clinic in question.
- Ensures better patient health outcomes
Telemedicine and tele health services, in general, integrate software and mobile applications into healthcare as well. These applications can reduce cases of non-compliance when it comes to recommended courses of treatment for a particular patient.
When an individual follows the prescribed routine and medications, he/she is bound to receive a better prognosis. This eventually improves the reputation of not only the primary physician but also of the healthcare organisation as a whole.
- Convenient scheduling of appointments
Since doctors and patients can connect at any time and from anywhere, telemedicine allows for effective appointment scheduling. Some clinics can even offer extended consultations or connect with practitioners over the weekend. This flexibility is unavailable in conventional forms of therapy and visits.
The points mentioned above show some of the ways in which telemedicine benefits healthcare providers as well as patients. However, the primary challenge for Indians seeking telemedicine services is its limited availability. Only the most high-end private hospitals offer the same to patients at present.
Treatment at these places can burn through your savings if you do not possess convenient and affordable modes of payment like the Bajaj Finserv Digital Health EMI Network Card. This card can reduce your medical liabilities by dividing your bills into EMIs. All you need to do is visit one of the hospitals or facilities from the health card hospital list for cashless treatment of over 800 health conditions.
How to avail of the health card?
Existing Bajaj Finserv EMI network members can avail of the health card through an online application. These individuals do not need to submit any documents for this financial product, making the application procedure convenient.
They need to follow the steps mentioned here to complete application –
- Click on ‘Get it now’ after opening the official website for the card.
- Provide your registered mobile number and verify it through OTP authentication.
- Check your pre-approved limit on the card
- Pay the relevant joining fee
- Start utilizing the health card for medical expenses payable up to Rs.4 lakh at 5,500 plus network facilities across more than 1,000 Indian cities.
With the card, you can thus convert the immediate medical bills into no-cost EMIs payable over a tenor of up to 24 months.
However, if you are not a member of the EMI network, you would need to visit nearby network outlets or clinics to avail of the card. You would need to provide KYC documents and ECS mandate to avail of the card. Also, depending on the insta or non-insta card variant opted, individuals, need to pay a nominal one-time fee of Rs.707 or Rs.589 respectively.
