Traveling to the doctor for a minor issue drains time and energy. A study shows patients spend 121 minutes per visit. Surprisingly, only 20 minutes involve the physician. The rest includes travel and waiting—making the process inefficient, costly, and frustrating.
Today, especially after COVID-19, Americans value time, money, and convenience more than ever. This shift in mindset has sparked demand for better options. As a result, telehealth has emerged as a practical solution for busy individuals seeking faster, more accessible care.
What is Telehealth?
Telehealth is a method of providing medical and mental health care remotely, usually through a smartphone, computer, or tablet. Sometimes referred to as telemedicine or “virtual visits”, it offers a wide range of benefits to patients who are unable to attend in-person medical care visits. In most cases, telehealth is conducted via a secure video conference session. Though completely at their own discretion, some doctors offer the option to exchange emails, text messages, phone calls, and/or a dedicated telehealth app.
How Is Telehealth Revolutionizing Healthcare Access?
Comfort and Convenience:
Telehealth fits easily into busy schedules. You skip commuting, childcare arrangements, and time off work. Everything happens at home.
Lower Overall Costs:
Virtual visits typically cost less than in-person ones. You avoid extra charges for staff, facilities, and paperwork.
Improved Accessibility:
Telehealth breaks barriers by reaching rural areas, underserved communities, and people with mobility or insurance challenges. It meets diverse patient needs efficiently.
You can’t eliminate in-person visits entirely since some conditions require lab work or procedures from a specialist. Additionally, some insurance plans don’t include telemedicine coverage or access to virtual providers.
Even so, telehealth empowers patients with greater accessibility, flexibility, and control over their care. It removes social, geographic, and financial barriers, delivering essential health services to people who need them most.
Review your health insurance policy today to find out if telehealth services are covered!
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Additional Sources:
What is telehealth? | Telehealth.HHS.gov
Telehealth: What Is It, How to Prepare, Is It Covered? | National Institute on Aging (nih.gov)
US Telehealth user statistics and forecast for 2022 (insiderintelligence.com)
How Much Time & Money Is Wasted Waiting in Doctor’s Offices | Money