Telehealth has become an integral part of healthcare systems in many countries worldwide, including the United States. The US was initially reluctant to give telehealth a chance, but it is now part of everyday life for millions of people across the country. Telehealth is particularly appealing to American women as it helps them balance work, family and health concerns. Read on as we take a closer look.
Providing Convenience That Fits into Busy Lives
Squeezing a medical appointment into a busy day can be challenging for American women. Many of them balance full-time jobs with parenting or caregiving duties. The traditional healthcare system struggles to match the flexibility that women need, but telehealth provides them with a different route to receiving quality care. Telehealth services allow American women to schedule an appointment with a general practitioner (GP) even outside of working hours. All they need is a digital device and a reliable Wi-Fi connection.
The COVID-19 pandemic opened the eyes of many Americans to how powerful a tool telehealth can be. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), telehealth visits increased by154 percent between March 2019 and March 2020. American women made up a sizable chunk of those numbers. Many of them realized that they can take care of their health remotely.
Better Access to Specialists
Not everyone receives high-quality healthcare in the US. While urban areas have access to specialists from different disciplines, women in remote communities cannot boast the luxury of choice. Many of them are forced to spend hours on the road to see a medical professional, and the arduous process has discouraged some women from seeking the help they need.
Telehealth makes things easier by bridging the gap between patient and specialist. Using a reputable telehealth provider, women can get access to specialists who are otherwise out of reach. It comes in handy in areas such as reproductive health, dermatology or mental health services, where timely access to qualified professionals can make all the difference. For instance, many aspects of prenatal care, such as discussing nutrition, exercise or reviewing test results, can be managed virtually.
The same can be said for women in the postpartum stage. They can schedule counseling sessions from home and reduce the stress of traveling with a newborn child. Mental health is also a sensitive area for American women. Many females struggle with anxiety and depression, and telehealth removes the stigma that usually comes with seeking professional help.
Keeping in Touch While Traveling Abroad
Many American women spend time overseas for work purposes or on vacation. When they travel to far-flung countries such as Australia, accessing healthcare can be tricky. The time-difference may result in some of the essential telehealth services they can access in the USnot being as readily available. Thankfully, Australia has a superb telehealth infrastructure.
Telehealth providers such as DoctorsOnDemand are a great example of this in action. This impartial DoctorsOnDemand review highlights the platform has one of the fastest response times around. While some telehealth providers are not tied down by geography, many American platforms can only offer their services to patients within their state. DoctorsOnDemand helps to ensure continuity of care. They have specialists who can offer the same level of digital healthcare US women have become accustomed to.
Reducing the Financial Burden
Healthcare in the US is expensive. The burden can be massively overwhelming for those who don’t have insurance. Women are often discouraged from seeking help when they do not have sufficient finances, but that only makes things worse in the long run.
Telehealth is not a cure for the high cost of healthcare in America, but it helps to reduce some of the pressure. Virtual consultations are usually far more economical than in-person visits, especially for people who only need a routine check-up.
Patients also get to save some of their money when they do not have to worry about transport costs and the need to take unpaid leave from work just to manage their health. Wearable devices and other tools that aid telehealth services also come in handy. These devices send real-time data from the patient to the specialist, making healthcare more efficient.
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