Exam Questions
Institution
Name
Author Note
Exam Questions
Telemedicine
According to Skolnik (2015), the evolution of the current healthcare system that utilizes measures like telemedicine or rather telehealth has been met with mixed reactions by various groups in the US society and worldwide. Proponents of the strategy argue that it is a technology that offers broad support to a large number of groups such as the government, healthcare providers, and, more importantly, to patients (Skolnik, 2015). Arguments laid down infiltrate the benefits that telemedicine has tagged along, such as convenience in access to affordable medical services where patients can obtain healthcare services at the comfort of their homes without having to visit medical institutions. More particularly, the method has been acknowledged to be of great relief to the elderly, patients with acute respiratory illness or chronically ill patients for whom shifting of positions is difficult (Skolnik, 2015).
More so, the technology has been associated with a decline in client wait times. Further, supporters of telemedicine feel that the method has reduced the time spent when patients seek medical services physically for both doctors and patients. Also, the technique has been linked to causing a decrease in overall costs that are incurred during the dissemination of face-to-face healthcare services (The Joint Commission, n.d.). In this light, the method has been highly appraised for the increased benefits it has culminated in the people. However, other people feel that telehealth encompasses a more considerable burden than its benefits. Firstly, telemedicine pans out to be more costly than physical examination (Skolnik, 2015). This is simply because the parity laws that pertain to value-based care require a similar reimbursement for telehealth to that of a face-to-face visit. One of the primary considerations for a cost-effective method revolves around savings, which is not apparent in the case of telemedicine. The technology is set to assist a large number of patients in critical conditions on the side of healthcare. However, physicians may end up receiving less relevant cases than they had anticipated. This case has been attributed to over-utilization, which continually increases operational costs to both the government and insurers.
Despite these arguments, however, telemedicine is a significant construct that will improve the overall patient outcome in society. The program has vast benefits that will help create a healthy community in its continued application (The Joint Commission, n.d.). Through effortless access and increased affordability, the method is anticipated to contribute to improved quality care and enhanced patient outcomes. Among the strengths of telemedicine is increased access to affordable care to various patients in different destinations. Patients can get information and services that they could not otherwise have accessed easily. However, the method has been linked to extensive dependence on technical costs, which may be limited to specific populations. Also, the availability and expenses of the plan may not be convenient, especially for healthcare institutions. The technique involves applying expensive technology, which may be costly to the providers and, consequently, inflict a burden on the recipients (Skolnik, 2015). However, the convenience of the method may be induced by offering adequate training to patients on the application of the technique.
Further, proper funding should be sought from trustees, donors, or the government for the institutions adopting this procedure. This should prevail to avoid the burden of falling into the citizens whom the same method is trying to save. Implementation of these strategies will help improve the efficacy of the technique in saving more lives.
References
Skolnik, R. (2015). Global health, 101. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
The Joint Commission. (n.d.). Joint Commission FAQs. Joint Commission.org. Retrieved from http://www.jointcommission.org/about/JointCommissionFaqs.aspx?CategoryId=10#289