The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is becoming an essential tool in many industries. Given the current explosion of advancement in technologies, ICT is increasingly growing relevant within the field of healthcare. Moreover, with the rapid increase in the events of chronic diseases and the need to reduce healthcare costs, Telemedicine lies in the forefront of innovation for the healthcare industry.
Using a combination of ICT, healthcare can be delivered from a distance, providing essential coverage to people in the rural communities. Telemedicine has the tremendous potential to offer access to quality care and provide basic medical treatment to the entire population. It also has the ability to deliver healthcare in a more convenient way for patients to reduce overall healthcare expenses, and increase patient engagement, thus increasing the overall quality of patient care.
Telemedicine is transforming how healthcare is being delivered. There are a number of patient centric companies and organizations who are re-imagining how medicine can be practiced and are driving the industry forward with innovative technologies and solutions. The global telemedicine market is expected to reach US$113 billion by 2025. The main drivers are the growing numbers of chronic conditions and the rising demand for self-care. A recent survey found that 65% of patients who had a primary care physician were open to see their doctor via video. Among parents with children under age 18, over 78% expressed interest for the same.
Although there are still a lot of things to figure out in terms of legal, safety, ethical, and other considerations, but as telemedicine progresses, the impact and outcomes can only be anticipated as being astounding. New technology is already on its way and augmented reality, virtual medical advances, biotechnology, and wearables will be integrated into this landscape to provide additional methods for the provision of care, patient monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment. All of this will increase the level of physician-patient interaction that is leveraged and facilitated by technology and will require new ways of thinking about healthcare, technology, and medicine.
