The surge in telemedicine adoption highlights its potential to bridge geographical gaps and enhance accessibility. Streamlining telemedicine practices to offer similar benefits is the need of the hour
By Dr (Major) Rajesh Kr Bhardwaj, ENT/ Otorhinolaryngologis, Sitaram Bhartia Hospital
Telemedicine is a broad term that refers to the process of remote diagnosis and medication of patients through technological means from distant locations. Over the past few years, the role of telemedicine in the healthcare ecosystem has grown immensely. In 2022, India's telemedicine market achieved a valuation of $1.10 billion and is projected to experience robust compound growth reaching an estimated value of $5.15 billion.
The introduction of the National Health Digital Mission, encompassing telemedicine, unique health identification, and electronic health and medical records, has brought a transformative revolution in healthcare accessibility and operational efficiency across India. By July 2023, the government’s telemedicine platform, eSanjeevani, provided over 13 crore consultations. This surge in telemedicine adoption highlights its potential to bridge geographical gaps and enhance accessibility, even beyond the immediate context of the pandemic. Today, as it continues to co-exist with in-clinic consultations, streamlining telemedicine practices to offer similar benefits is the need of the hour.
Applying consistent norms and standards to digital platforms can help foster trust and deliver patient-centric care.
Benefits of uniformity
As the adoption of digital healthcare continues to grow, one thing is certain is that it is designed to be patient-centric. However, implementing uniform practices for digital platforms can further streamline the offering in the interest of both the healthcare provider and patients.
∙ Building Trust Through Transparency: Patient reviews and feedback: In the digital era, people tend to look at reviews before making any service-related decisions. Through the digital platform, patients now have the option to go through reviews before availing of any healthcare service. Numerous studies have underscored the high levels of satisfaction both patients and healthcare providers experience with telehealth services. Patients’ reviews and ratings about their experiences can help others make an informed decision about the specialist they want to consult. This fosters transparency and creates an ecosystem based on trust, facilitating a patient-centric approach.
∙ Ensuring Consistent Quality Care: The implementation of uniform norms ensures adherence to stringent quality standards across telehealth services. Digital platforms are covered under the Consumer Protection Act 2019, ensuring patients’ grievances are addressed, thereby maintaining the highest quality of services. There are clear-cut guidelines from the Telemedicine Society of India which determine rules of engagement between the patient and the service provider. One of the important aspects of the guidelines is that the patient and doctor must be identified – neither can remain anonymous. The healthcare providers' credentials must be carefully displayed including mandatory licences etc. This ensures a consistent quality in imparting care.
∙ Bridging Urban-Rural Healthcare Divide: The pandemic’s lockdown measures brought the challenges faced in transporting patients, especially in geographically complex regions. Teleconsultations have grown prominent as a possible means of bridging the divide. In rural areas, accessibility is even more important because it saves patients from having to travel great distances for consultations and treatments, which might be difficult. Teleconsultation plays an important role in facilitating healthcare accessibility by reaching people who may not have easy access to traditional healthcare services, as many rural and semi-urban locations have internet and telecommunications infrastructure.
∙ The Power of Information Sharing: The illegibility of a doctor’s handwriting in a prescription has always been a major cause of concern leading to avoidable medication errors. Telemedicine platforms offer a welcome solution by promoting the use of typed prescriptions, significantly reducing the risk of such errors. Additionally, these platforms facilitate information sharing through secure messaging systems, WhatsApp integration (adhering to patient privacy regulations), and email attachments. This streamlined communication empowers both patients and providers, ensuring swift and effective care delivery. However, it is crucial to prioritise data security and confidentiality throughout all information exchange processes.
Looking ahead
The evolution of telehealth holds tremendous promise for revolutionising healthcare delivery globally. As technology continues to advance and societal norms shift, the integration of standardized practices will remain instrumental in optimising patient outcomes and enhancing healthcare accessibility. By embracing uniformity and prioritizing patient-centric care, telemedicine stands poised to shape the future of healthcare delivery, ensuring equitable access to quality services for all.
Telemedicine provides a convenient and powerful tool for patient management. The Telemedicine Society of India has brought out robust guidelines which determine the rules of engagement between the patient and the healthcare provider, and these must be adhered to. The norms have been standardised keeping patient welfare and data confidentiality in mind.