2022 Predictions for Telehealth 

It wasn’t so long ago that the idea of holding a video conference to discuss your test results with your doctor was a foreign concept. If you had a medical issue, you called to schedule an appointment and visit your doctor in person. If you had questions that potentially required another visit to the doctor’s office, you scheduled another visit. If you were lucky, a conversation over the phone was sufficient. And then there are specialists, of which you wait for the results and for your doctor’s office to schedule another visit to discuss them.

Today, far more options are available to those in need of medical care. Technological advances have pushed innovation in nearly every sector, the healthcare industry included.

As a healthcare app developer, we’re dedicated to delivering top-tier, innovative telehealth app solutions for our clients. As this dynamic industry evolves, it’s our duty to stay one step ahead and ensure our clients are getting industry-leading telehealth app solutions they can depend on.

What is Telehealth

Telehealth is a breach of healthcare defined by the access of health-related services and information via electronic information and telecommunication technologies. So for example, when you need to consult with your doctor regarding medical care in a remote manner, you and your doctor are engaging in telehealth services.

The technological advances in telehealth are not new, as the medical community has been implementing virtual options for several years. However, it is only recently that telehealth usage has skyrocketed due to the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. Advances and availability of telehealth applications disrupted traditional medicine before COVID. Now, telehealth is the preferred option and first choice for many people.

And this industry is growing rapidly. As an iPhone app developer in New York City, we’ve seen an explosion in clients looking to expand their healthcare offering to an app-based telehealth service to serve their clients that wish to receive medical treatment remotely.

Who Benefits from Telehealth

The benefits of telehealth can impact a wide variety of patients. For some people, like the elderly, or those who don’t have access to readily available traditional medicine, telehealth provides a bridge to receive needed care. There is little debate about how far-reaching telehealth is for many people.

 Another benefit is the automation and streamlining of patient care for doctors, nurses, and health care professionals. The value of direct communications between patients and their care providers in near real-time cannot be understated. This ability couples well with doctors communicating with each other to provide better patient care.

 On the other side of the coin are the medical records in the hands of the individual. For many with a long medical history, having that information available wherever they engage with a doctor is a significant benefit.

Why Has Telehealth Gained Such Rapid Adoption?

It may be of little surprise, but the rapid onset of COVID-19 and its persistence to remain a worldwide pandemic has all but driven many people to use telehealth options as a first choice. According to a McKinsey report, from February to April 2020 saw a staggering 78% increase in telehealth, 38 times higher than pre-pandemic levels.

 The trends indicate that telehealth will remain a top option for many people when the pandemic ends. To say that COVID-19 has fundamentally shifted the future of healthcare isn’t an understatement. Within the same report, 40% of those surveyed indicated they would continue to use telehealth for their medical care.

2022 Predictions for Telehealth

Several trends in 2022 promise to bring exciting options for both patients and health care professionals.

 The potential for telehealth to incorporate wearable medical devices to help monitor patients remotely is one such trend that looks to take significant strides forward. The ability to know when a patient’s vitals or data isn’t within a prescribed range can lead to more immediate and rapid assistance, even before a patient might know there is a problem.

 Increased patient medical data is significant for medical and insurance companies looking to leverage big data. Automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in cognitive automation could all find a place with telehealth in 2022.

 Digital therapeutics, which use software and applications to deliver therapeutic interventions, is a natural part of telehealth. Beyond the currently available health and wellness applications, digital therapeutics have captured the attention of the medical industry, intending to broaden patient options for clinically validated therapy.

Business Opportunity in Telehealth

If you are in the healthcare industry, offer health care insurance to your employees, or are looking to implement telehealth capabilities, now has never been a better time to explore your options. According to a recent PWC report, incorporating telehealth elements is an overwhelming corporate priority.

 At Dogtown Media, we implicitly understand the power of telehealth applications. We work with many companies to design and create mobile medical applications. We’d love to hear from you and see how we can collaborate on your telehealth applications needs.