Online Consultation

“The evidence supporting the role of telemedicine is strong. Studies have shown that telemedicine promotes continuity of care, decreases the cost of care, and improves patient self-management and overall clinical outcomes…”

                                                                                                                                        -Stephen Agboola, MD,

The healthcare industry is evolving rapidly. It has grown to locate new opportunities and methods to make the best medical treatment accessible to everyone from the comfort of their home. It is both cost-effective and comes up the best when there are ongoing aid and staff shortages..

What is Virtual Healthcare?

To provide context, virtual healthcare involves the use of technology devices and applications such as the telephone, mobile apps, video conferences, and messages.  Using these platforms helps provide virtual health services in a more efficient and accessible manner, therefore increasing the quality of the healthcare as a whole. Telemedicine allows healthcare providers to treat their patients without meeting them in-person and instead through live video calls, audio calls, or instant chats. This field of healthcare also includes checking in with patients, monitoring their reports, and providing appropriate treatment remotely.

Why Is Virtual Healthcare So Important Currently?

In the modern world, telemedicine is known as an essential field of services due to people having tight schedules, a lack of transportation, or disabilities/conditions that make it difficult for them to leave their homes. Though this is all true, and still very apparent, virtual healthcare is particularly skyrocketing right now due to COVID-19.

People have spent months quarantined in their homes, and in early 2020, when cases were at their highest, many were afraid to even step out into the streets. Due to this, society was able to take advantage of telemedicine and could address their emergent or ongoing health concerns in their safety of their homes, without having to go to a doctor’s office and risking exposing themselves to the coronavirus. Furthermore, if one has already tested positive for COVID-19 and are quarantining themselves, they are able to speak with a doctor and receive the proper treatment without having to be in physical contact with others and spreading the virus.

How Does it Work?

Patients can register for a virtual appointment anywhere and anytime, which makes receiving health care that much more convenient. Patients are expected to provide any and all details of their medical records and visible symptoms that could assist the doctor with the treatment. The more efficient way to approach telemedicine is to have a video conference to meet with your doctors. This ensures better communication between the patient and doctor and helps facilitate the diagnosis of the problem.

Registering with BitCare Virtual Care Service is Easy!

To register with BitCare Virtual Care services, select the Book Now option from the BitCare Virtual Care page and enter your name, phone number, email address, and reason for the telehealth service. And voila! Our nurse practitioner will contact you to provide our best service.

While virtual care is a more convenient way for patients to communicate with their doctors, everyone should keep in mind that not all health issues can be solved in virtual environments. Due to this, it is important to have a good understanding of how and when telehealth should be used. Virtual care is often encouraged for regular, more common diseases, second opinions, routine checkups, counselling, and continuous monitoring instead of visiting RMPs or any other medical professionals.

How Convenient Is Virtual Care Compared to Physical Appointments?

➢ Patients in rural and isolated areas taking advantage of virtual healthcare benefit from more rapid and accessible communication with specialists.
➢ Healthcare services, remote analysis, monitoring, and electronic data storage provided by virtual care considerably reduces the total cost for the service.
➢ Virtual patients are able to better manage their medication, lifestyle, and any chronic conditions without the challenge of physically going to their doctor. Without lacking a working day or wasting any paid time off, patients can follow direct instructions from their doctor and maintain their health.
➢ In virtual environments, patients have a larger degree of privacy to discuss sensitive medical concerns.
➢ The advantages of virtual healthcare are even greater for people with chronic conditions or mobility problems, and for those who need specialist visits.
➢ Virtual care makes long-term preventive care easier for people of all ages.
➢ Virtual care also offers a competitive advantage, attracting and retaining new care models for an increased number of patients.

In summary, no matter what it is referred to as, virtual healthcare, telemedicine, or telehealth, being able to virtually communicate with your doctor and specialists reaps a large amount of benefits. Comfort, convenience, and privacy are all elevated through virtual care, and patients often have to pay less money for services that would otherwise cut a large amount away from their paycheck.

At one point or another, you have definitely felt some variation of discomfort or annoyance upon having to visit your doctor. The next time you feel this way, remember that virtual healthcare is at your fingertips and even more accessible through BitCare.