TELEMEDICINE
Telemedicine is the delivery and support of healthcare services over long distances using electronic information and communication technology. (1)
People prefer telemedicine in the Covid-19 Pandemic age because it makes personal contact less safe. Fortunately, by using telemedicine services via video conferencing or other online tools, medical visits can be decreased
How does it work?
WHY IS TELEMEDICINE NEEDED IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM?
In light of the cost of travel, frequent hospital visits can be expensive, especially in rural locations. Telemedicine thereby reduces treatment costs and saves time for both patients and medical professionals. Additionally, because of its quick and beneficial attributes, it helps streamline the day-to-day activities of clinics and hospitals. There are numerous uses for telemedicine in medical care, education, research, administration, and public health. (2) Monitoring and managing the recovery of patients who have been released would be simpler because to this innovative technology. It is adequate to say that telemedicine can result in a win-win scenario as a result.
There are various benefits of this technology for both patients and healthcare professionals. Despite ongoing technical difficulties and detractors, telemedicine can enrich and improve the general patient experience. (3 -5)
Radiation therapy is offered at different times during cancer treatment and for different reasons, including:
- As the only (primary) treatment for cancer
- Before surgery, to shrink a cancerous tumour (neoadjuvant therapy)
- After surgery, to stop the growth of any remaining cancer cells (adjuvant therapy)
- In combination with other treatments, such as chemotherapy, to destroy cancer cells
- In advanced cancer to alleviate symptoms caused by cancer.
TELEHEALTH
In order to promote long-distance clinical healthcare, patient and professional health-related education and training, public health, and health administration, telehealth is the utilization of electronic information and telecommunications technologies.(6)
BENEFITS
- Telehealth
- Facilitate service to disabled patients
- Remote treatment
- Treatments of school-going children
- Effective for disorders not requiring lab examination
- Doctor’s appointment virtually
- Enhance overall healthcare system performance
- Improve patient coordination
- Minimize travelling of patients
- Digital health monitoring
- Secure patient from infectious disease
- Cost-effective
- Reduce face to face meeting
- IMRT: Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy.
- IGRT: Image-guided Radiation Therapy.
- VMAT: Volumetric modulated Radiation Therapy.
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery / Radiotherapy. (SRS/SRT)
LIMITATIONS
When compared to traditional medical methods, telemedicine offers a lot of potential disadvantages. It complements the current healthcare system for the bare minimum of functions, but it does not replace it. Lack of accessibility and affordability is one of the biggest drawbacks. The setup and administration of the provider may be expensive. Telemedicine can be too expensive for smaller healthcare organizations, while being a useful and worthwhile facility. Additionally, it will be unable to deliver dependable treatment due to poor communication.
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy. (SBRT)
REFERENCES
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S. Albahri, J.K. Alwan, Z.K. Taha, S.F. Ismail, R.A. Hamid, A.A. Zaidan, O.S. Albahri,
B.B. Zaidan, A.H. Alamoodi, M.A. AlsalemL. Bashshur, G.W. Shannon, E.A. Krupinski, J. Grigsby, J.C. Kvedar, R.S. Weinstein,
J.H. Sanders, K.S. Rheuban, T.S. Nesbitt, D.C. Alverson, R.C. MerrellManchanda, Telemedicine–getting care to patients closer to home
Allen A, Allen D. Telemedicine programs: 2nd annual review reveals doubling of programs in a year. Telemedicine Today. 1995; 3(1):10–4. [Google Scholar]
