David Woroboff, an entrepreneur and businessman, dedicated to the development of telemedicine tools
Telemedicine is presented as a good alternative to limit person-to-person contact and avoid contagion. This alternative makes it possible to advance in reducing barriers and meeting the patient where they are, explains the telehealth expert David Woroboff, an entrepreneur and businessman dedicated to developing telemedicine tools.
The use of telemedicine has grown exponentially, mainly due to efforts to minimize person-to-person contact. Expansions of telemedicine services have become a lifesaver, particularly for patients seeking addiction treatment services.
When stay-at-home orders are implemented, telemedicine serves as a bridge for continuity of care. What allows the flexibility of telemedicine is to advance in the mission of reducing barriers and meeting the patient in the place where he resides, explains the specialist David Woroboff.
However, certain challenges come with making care virtual. For one thing, it’s hard for specialists to monitor whether their patients start taking their medications as directed.
Barriers to healthcare are removed
Some changes are here to stay. According to David Woroboff, mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental health accounted for 25% of telemedicine charges. Behavioral health services, such as individual and group therapy, will be available around the clock via telemedicine.
The governments of the most important countries have recognized telemedicine’s impact in improving access to mental health care. It is even one of the key strategies for addressing the mental health crisis in several countries.
Telemedicine expansions help remove some access barriers for patients. Gone are the long wait times, daily commutes, and transportation costs.
Allows greater accessibility
When you don’t have to trust the findings of a particular physical exam, video can be almost as efficient as seeing someone in person, and somewhat better, given the access issues, says David Woroboff. Many doctors prefer to be able to see patients “more frequently via video than to see them or see them much less frequently due to limited access.