The Advantages of Telehealth in Remote Locations

If you live in a remote location, you’re probably familiar with the barriers to accessing healthcare. Visiting a healthcare provider often requires long travel distances, especially if you need to see a specialist. This can result in expensive travel costs and extended periods away from home. 

Finding healthcare professionals to work in remote locations can also be a challenge. A shortage of healthcare workers in remote areas can limit the services available to residents. 

Telehealth can help to overcome some of the barriers associated with access to healthcare in remote locations. It provides patients in rural and hard-to-reach communities with access to safe and high-quality healthcare from the comfort of their homes. 

What is telehealth?

Telehealth refers to the technologies used to connect individuals with their healthcare providers when it’s not possible or convenient to meet in person. There are several ways to use telehealth, including live video chats over your computer or mobile device and phone calls.

What are the advantages of telehealth in remote locations?

There are many benefits of telehealth for patients living in remote or difficult-to-access locations, including: 

Reduced travel

Being able to communicate with a healthcare specialist using telehealth technologies can save hours of travel time. This can prevent patients from having to miss work or arrange childcare to travel to an appointment. In winter months, this can keep patients off the road when there are icy and unsafe driving conditions.  

Reduced costs

Telehealth can also help reduce the costs associated with travel, including fuel, parking and car maintenance. For patients who can’t drive or don’t have a car, this can save them an expensive taxi ride or the effort involved in coordinating a ride with a friend or family member.  

Greater access

Many rural and remote areas experience healthcare workforce shortages. This can limit patient access to different healthcare services. Telehealth can help overcome these issues, allowing patients to connect with different healthcare providers and specialists regardless of location.

Increased privacy 

If you are concerned with your privacy and don’t want neighbors or acquaintances in your community to see you in a particular clinic, telehealth can help put your mind at ease. When you speak to a healthcare professional over telehealth, no one will be privy to your healthcare information. 

Patient comfort

Having the option to access healthcare from the comfort of your own home is a major benefit of telehealth. This is especially true for elderly patients, those with mobility issues and immunocompromised patients who don’t want to risk infection while sitting in a clinic or hospital waiting room. 

Experience the benefits of telehealth 

Telehealth provides a safe, convenient, and effective way for patients in remote communities to access health care. By decreasing travel time and costs and improving access, privacy and comfort, the benefits of telehealth cannot be understated.