The Rise of Telemedicine in Canada and the USA: What You Need to Know
In both Canada and the USA, telemedicine, once viewed as a specialized area of healthcare, has emerged as a leading medical breakthrough. The need for telemedicine has increased dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic began and as a result of ongoing technological advancements. The typical doctor-patient connection is transformed by telemedicine, which enables patients and healthcare practitioners to communicate remotely via digital platforms. We’ll discuss the growth of telemedicine in both nations, its advantages and disadvantages, and patient information in this blog.
What is telemedicine?
The application of electronic information and communication technology to healthcare provision and assistance when participants are apart by location is known as telemedicine. A Latin word “mederi” denotes “to heal,” while the Greek word “tele” means “distance.
The process of providing medical care remotely through the use of digital health tools, smartphone apps, video conferencing, and phone calls is known as telemedicine. It enables medical personnel to diagnose, treat, and keep an eye on patients.
Although telemedicine as a concept is not new, its widespread use is. Infrastructure and technological developments have made remote healthcare feasible and efficient. Telemedicine has been rapidly adopted by Canada and the USA as a means of improving healthcare efficiency and accessibility, given their large geographic areas and heterogeneous healthcare requirements.
In North America, Telemedicine’s Growth
Canada has always had difficulties getting timely healthcare to remote and rural communities despite having a universal healthcare system. A major problem has been the lack of access to specialists and healthcare facilities, as more than 19% of the population lives in rural areas. By enabling virtual communication between patients and healthcare providers, telemedicine has offered a useful remedy for closing the gap.
The pandemic caused Canadian provinces to quickly increase their telemedicine coverage. Robust telehealth platforms were built in British Columbia and Ontario, enabling doctors to provide video consultations. Because of how well this change has worked, telemedicine is predicted to continue to play a crucial role in Canada’s healthcare system even after the pandemic.
Telemedicine has also seen a sharp increase in the USA, where healthcare is mostly privatized, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regulators, such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), temporarily loosened restrictions to provide telemedicine services more latitude. This made it possible for medical professionals to perform remote consultations across state lines and increase the number of telemedicine-covered services.
The advantages of telemedicine
Patients and healthcare practitioners alike have benefited greatly from the quick uptake of telemedicine in both the USA and Canada. The following are a few of the biggest benefits:
People in remote or underprivileged locations can access healthcare thanks to telemedicine. Nowadays, patients in distant areas who had to travel great distances to visit a doctor can receive medical care from the convenience of their homes. This is especially helpful in nations like Canada, where large geographic distances might make it difficult to receive treatment.
It is impossible to overstate how convenient telemedicine is. Patients no longer need to plan their travel, take time off from work, or sit in waiting rooms.
Telemedicine has the potential to save expenses for both individuals and healthcare systems. Telemedicine can reduce total healthcare costs by removing the need for travel and lowering hospital admissions. Telemedicine services are frequently less expensive in the USA than conventional in-office appointments.
Telemedicine makes it possible to monitor patients continuously and with ease. This eliminates the need for frequent travel and allows patients with chronic conditions to have regular check-ins with their healthcare specialists. Additionally, it enhances healthcare professionals’ capacity to track patients’ progress in real time.
