Telemedicine and Its Scope in COVID-19: Commentary

Abstract

Telemedicine is a new concept that is developing with a lightning speed in developed countries. The practitioners of medicine are also using this as it has been legalised in many countries.

In the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) times, when the buzzword is physical distancing, telemedicine assumes more importance. People are using this because of its easy availability, which cuts down their waiting time in the hospitals, it is easily accessible and is cost-effective. This is not only used by the modern science but also by the alternative systems of medicine like Ayurveda and Homoeopathy, as well as by the nutritionists, physiotherapists, yoga experts and so many others who are following these audio-visual and telecommunication techniques. It has worked well to reach out to the patients and resolve their queries. It is easy to reach to so many persons via a single platform and guide them. We are here to share some of our views on telemedicine and on the approach adopted by the people across the world, and discuss how it will be implemented by the future generation for the benefits of their lives and the society.

Keywords

telemedicine - telehealth - medical science - telecommunication - cost-effective

Publication History

Article published online:
16 September 2020

• Bibliography

• 1 DA Perednia New global telemedicine network scores first Middle East contract. Telemedicine. 1994; 2: 7
• 2 The Ultimate Telemedicine Guide | What Is Telemedicine? May 25, 2018 https://evisit.com/resources/what-is-telemedicine
• 3 Tanriverdi H, Iacono CS. Diffusion of telemedicine: a knowledge barrier perspective. Telemed J 1999; 5 (03) 223-244
• 4 Hamed Akhlaghi. Essential of Telemedicine and Telecare. BMJ Clinical Research 2002 324(7345):
• 5 Murphy Jr RLH, Bird KT. Telediagnosis: a new community health resource. Observations on the feasibility of telediagnosis based on 1000 patient transactions. Am J Public Health 1974; 64 (02) 113-119
• 6 Perednia DA, Allen A. Telemedicine technology and clinical applications. JAMA 1995; 273 (06) 483-488
• 7 Nagendra Babu. Comprehensive Study of Organon. New Delhi: B. Jain Publisher(P) Ltd. 11th Impression; 2018: 49-57 , 1–6, 56–57, 465–468
• 8 LeRouge CM, Garfield MJ, Hevner AR. Patient perspectives of telemedicine quality. Patient Prefer Adherence 2014; 9: 25-40
• 9 Moazzami B, Razavi-Khorasani N, Dooghaie Moghadam A, Farokhi E, Rezaei N. COVID-19 and telemedicine: immediate action required for maintaining healthcare providers well-being. J Clin Virol 2020; 126: 104345
• 10 Zhou X, Snoswell CL, Harding LE. et al. The role of telehealth in reducing the mental health burden from COVID-19. Telemed J E Health 2020; 26 (04) 377-379
• 11 Smith AC, Thomas E, Snoswell CL. et al. Telehealth for global emergencies: implications for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). J Telemed Telecare 2020; 26 (05) 309-313
• 12 Rockwell KL, Gilroy AS. Incorporating telemedicine as part of COVID-19 outbreak response systems. Am J Manag Care 2020; 26 (04) 147-148
• 13 Portnoy J, Waller M, Elliott T. Telemedicine in the era of COVID-19. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2020; 8 (05) 1489-1491

• Reference

• 1 Breen G-M, Matusitz J. An evolutionary examination of telemedicine: a health and computer-mediated communication perspective. Soc Work Public Health 2010; 25 (01) 59-71