Different Types of Telemedicine Jobs for Physicians

Types of Telemedicine Jobs for Physicians

Telemedicine involves caring for patients remotely when a physician cannot be physically present with the patient.

Telemedicine is provided with the use of advanced video-communication technology.

This technique is enormously useful as it lets healthcare experts provide services in emergencies and also helps to improve healthcare services in areas where such services may not be feasible, such as in rural settings.

Physicians who wish to shift their career path to telemedicine have incredible opportunities.

They can choose between synchronous and asynchronous telemedicine jobs. The former involves evaluating patients in real-time using video communication.

On the other hand, asynchronous telemedicine jobs use a store-and-forward technique in which the physician reviews the patient’s medical history and prescription after a while without the need for live video communication.

3 Types of Telemedicine Jobs for Physicians

There are three main types of telemedicine jobs for physicians. Each of these three job profiles plays a crucial role in patient care, and when used properly, the technology proves fruitful for physicians and patients alike.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the different types of telemedicine jobs for physicians in 2021:

1 – Store-and-Forward

As mentioned earlier, store-and-forward telemedicine removes the need for doctors to meet their patients in person.

Using this technique, the doctor can access the patient’s medical history and prescription details after acquiring them from the patient. This technique is commonly used in pathology, radiology, and dermatology.

Using appropriate care and infrastructure, store-and-forward telemedicine can save significant time and allow doctors to serve more patients within a shorter period than conventional medicine.

On the other hand, the success of this type of telemedicine depends largely on the extent of patient documentation or images available rather than diagnostic reports of a physical examination.

2 – Remote Monitoring

Remote monitoring, also called self-testing or self-monitoring, requires extensive technological devices that can monitor a patient’s health and vital statistics from remote locations. This technique is commonly used in chronic disease management, such as for cardiovascular disorders, asthma or diabetes mellitus.

Some of the major benefits one gets from using remote monitoring telemedicine techniques include cost-cutting and more frequent monitoring, which result in improved patient satisfaction.

However, some risks are associated with self-monitoring as patients are likely to perform the test improperly, which could result in a misdiagnosis. Using advanced monitoring devices can help solve this problem effectively.

3 – Real-Time Interactive Services

Another excellent career path for physicians in telemedicine jobs includes real-time interactive services. These are designed to provide immediate advice to patients who need medical help.

This technique primarily uses video conferencing technology for diagnosis, although it may also incorporate other technologies like telephone communication. Under this, the doctor can diagnose symptoms using medical history and consultation, with the ability to observe some physical signs via video. However, it is less comprehensive than a conventional face-to-face examination.

4 telemedicine jobs in real-time interactive services

Teleneuropsychology

Teleneuropsychology involves neuropsychological consultation and assessment primarily via video conferencing, not just over the phone, to enable visual interaction, which is crucial for accurate assessment.

This technique is used to assess patients with suspected cognitive disorders using adapted evaluation techniques suitable for delivery through video communication technology.

Research from 2014 found this telemedicine technique extremely feasible and reliable as an alternative to conventional face-to-face consultations, provided that quality standards and administration are maintained.

Telenursing

Telenursing involves nurses providing care and consultation remotely via various telecommunication methods, including video calls, to monitor patients’ health status and symptoms more effectively.

This type of telemedicine job is growing in demand due to its ability to extend reach and improve accessibility to specialized nursing care for patients in remote and rural communities.

This technique is also being considered to diagnose and treat minor illnesses in the early stages and advise whether the patient requires hospitalization for treatment.

Telepharmacy

Telepharmacy is the practice of offering pharmaceutical advice to patients remotely when direct contact between patient and pharmacist is not possible.

This technique is extremely valuable for medication monitoring and advising patients over the phone. If regulations permit it, the patient may even get refill authorization when needed through Telepharmacy.

Telerehabilitation

Telerehabilitation uses advanced communication technology to help doctors perform clinical evaluations and advise on patient rehabilitation therapies. This technique relies heavily on visual elements, such as webcams and video conferencing, to detect symptoms and evaluate clinical progress.

Conclusion

Telemedicine is a great alternative career path for doctors. This technique is incredibly useful to improve accessibility and affordability of healthcare to patients and also makes diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of patients easier for physicians too.

Feel free to comment and let us know which of the above-given telemedicine jobs for physicians suits you best.

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