What is Telemedicine? Answering All of Your Questions

You’ve probably been hearing more and more about telemedicine, and if the increasing prevalence of this term has left you wondering, “What is telemedicine?” We’re here to answer your questions.

Here at Biscup Spine, we offer telemedicine consultations for your convenience as our patient. But what exactly is telemedicine and how does this benefit our patients? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about telemedicine.

What is Telemedicine?

You’re here to get an answer to your question, “What is telemedicine?” so that’s what we’ll dive into and explain first.

Telemedicine is the use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to get access to healthcare without visiting your doctor in person. This is done with the use of a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or any device that can connect to the internet. 

It may be surprising, but telemedicine as we now know it started in the 1950s. At that time, some hospital systems and university medical centers were looking for ways to share information and images. There was a breakthrough when two health centers in Pennsylvania successfully shared radiologic images over the phone.

Originally, this was largely used to connect doctors with each other. For example, a doctor working in one location could use telemedicine to connect with a specialist in another location. This was a great help for patients and doctors in rural areas. However, because the technology required for telemedicine was expensive and complex, its growth remained limited.

Another breakthrough for telemedicine came with the rise of the internet age. The rapid improvement of technology, such as smart devices capable of video transmission, made remote healthcare more accessible.

Telemedicine vs. Telehealth

Although this term is commonly used as though it’s interchangeable with “telehealth”, there’s a difference between the two. While telemedicine refers to remote clinical services, telehealth refers to the range of technology and services that are used to provide patient care and improve healthcare delivery as a whole. In addition to clinical services, this can include provider training, administrative meetings, and medical education. Put simply, telehealth’s scope is broader than telemedicine’s. 

The Benefits

Now you have the answer to the question “What is telemedicine?” but what are the benefits of this over an in-person visit to a doctor? The most obvious benefit has become obvious after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Telemedicine allows you to have a remote visit with a doctor without potentially exposing them or yourself to Covid-19. When seeing your doctor in person isn’t necessary, a remote visit is a great way to keep everyone involved safe. It’s also much more convenient!

Because you won’t have to visit a doctor when it’s not necessary, you can also save time by avoiding unnecessary travel and transportation costs. You will also most likely notice a reduced wait time for your visits, but even if you do have to wait, you can continue working or doing whatever it is you need to do while you wait. This reduces taking time off work to visit the doctor or hiring child care to watch your children while you’re at the doctor.

Telemedicine also makes healthcare more accessible in general. If you need to speak with a specialist that isn’t located near you, a virtual visit can give you access to a consultation. A first-time consultation with a specialist is often used simply to help you become familiar with the specialist and to go over your medical history. Traveling a long distance for an appointment like this isn’t realistic for all patients, so the option to do this virtually can be very helpful.

However, in-person visits are sometimes necessary depending on your condition and medical needs. Speak with your doctor to determine if telemedicine is the best option for you as well as when you should visit your doctor in person.

What Type of Care Can Telemedicine Provide?

Now you have the answer to “What is telemedicine?” as well as the benefits of telemedicine, and now you may be wondering what kind of care telemedicine can provide. Telemedicine has many uses, some of which are listed below:

• Covid-19 screening and guidance for isolation or quarantine.
• General healthcare (wellness visits, advice for non-emergency illnesses, etc.)
• Prescription management
• Nutrition counseling
• Mental health counseling
• Lab test or x-ray results
• Skin conditions
• Urgent care issues like colds, coughs, and stomach aches
• Post-surgical follow-up

Of course, telemedicine is also an excellent option for consultations with specialists, such as Dr. Biscup! Dr. Biscup always meets with each of his patients personally for their initial consultation. During this consultation, you’ll have as long as an hour to discuss your medical history and condition with Dr. Biscup and get answers to any questions you may have. If you are unable to physically visit one of our offices, Dr. Biscup is available to assess your condition through a telemedicine consultation.

Get Premier Spinal Care in Florida at Biscup Spine

Dr. Biscup is a world-renowned pioneer in major reconstructive, previously failed, and minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery. His field of expertise includes laser microsurgery and micro-decompression laminoplasty.

Dr. Biscup’s goal is to gain a holistic understanding of your condition to determine the true underlying cause of your back pain. Utilizing a variety of advanced diagnostic tools such as MRI scans, nerve blocks, and comprehensive blood tests, Dr. Biscup will create a personalized care plan for your condition. At Biscup Spine, our goal is to provide you with a personalized treatment plan with the tools and resources you need to ensure you’ll meet your health goals using the highest quality of clinical care and an unmatched standard of service excellence.

If you’re currently living with back pain and are failing to get relief from your current treatment or have all but given up on finding relief, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-533-7313 or contact us online today. Our goal is to deliver the best outcome possible for the relief of your back pain and we pride ourselves on our proven ability to do so. We look forward to partnering with you on your successful journey to better health!