Banty Co-Founder and Medical Director, Dr. Richard Tytus, provided the subject matter and direction for this article. The author would like to thank Adam Grant for his editorial assistance in writing the article. Dr. Richard Tytus takes responsibility for the content of the article.
For some, change can be a scary thing. Not only can it shift an important element of a person’s day-to-day existence, but it can also have an impact on those they affiliate with.
In the medical community, many healthcare providers have become quite comfortable seeing patients at their clinic, or checking in with them over the phone. However, the emergence of virtual medicine solutions provided by companies like Banty are encouraging HCPs to change how they conduct patient appointments.
More specifically, we are talking about video calls. This technology – especially throughout the COVID-19 global health crisis – has prompted many clinics to begin adapting online medicine processes.
However, not all HCPs have been quick to jump aboard, fearing that such a change could hijack how they provide patient care. When you look at this issue closer, though, you will see that doctor-patient video calls don’t cause much disruption at all.
Way of the Future
Although video conferencing has been around for some time, we are truly beginning to see the positive impact it can have in the medical community. As a result, more and more HCPs are making virtual appointments available to patients.
Conversely, some patients are now expecting such a service to be available to them from their doctor. As much as offering virtual medicine services can assist a clinic’s workflow, it also shows patients that you are keeping up with modern advancements in patient care.
The Tech is Easy to Embrace
Understandably, not everyone is at the same level of tech literacy. But, if you choose a telemedicine solution like Banty, you are opting for a product that’s easy to operate and educate patients about.
For medical clinics, all that’s required is a decent desktop or laptop computer, a bright and quiet room, a custom Banty address (i.e., Banty.com/MyClinic) as well as a webcam. With these attributes in place, online doctor’s appointments can be held.
From a patient perspective, they will have the ability to quickly access an online doctor visit using a computer, smartphone, or tablet that has an operational webcam.
Patients Want a Face-to-Face Connection
When an in-person appointment isn’t possible, the instinct might be to strictly call a patient over the phone to hash out a medical issue. Unfortunately, this method is dated and doesn’t help as much as a video call appointment would.
By having a visual on a patient during a remote visit, better communication can be had. You will also have the chance to see what’s going on with the individual and not just take their word for it.
Moving to a video conference solution for remote appointments will make it easier to form a proper diagnosis and deliver next step suggestions than a phone call would.
Less Crowded Waiting Rooms
One of the biggest perks associated with practicing virtual medicine is how it allows you to keep waiting rooms less crowded.
Any patient will tell you one of their biggest anxieties associated with visiting a doctor’s office is having to sit in a crowded waiting room for an elongated period of time. Not only can this be stressful and negatively impact a person’s schedule for the day, there’s also the chance that they catch an illness from an individual sitting nearby.
Through the COVID-19 global pandemic, patients have grown accustomed to keeping space between one another, just in case. Even once the pandemic quiets down, many will still want to remain physically distant from strangers.
In the medical community, one way to accomplish this is by making online doctor’s appointments widely available.
