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Telemedicine

The practice of telemedicine has been on the rise in recent years. Telemedicine refers to the practice of caring for patients remotely through telecommunication mediums such as video-conferencing software. 


Telemedicine has various benefits. Convenience is one of the biggest benefits of telemedicine, patients are able to consult doctors without having to travel or wait in line. Furthermore, this provides a much simpler way for doctors and patients to have follow-up consults, where a thorough examination may not be required and the doctor is simply checking on the patient. 


However, the biggest criticism is that there are some extremely fundamental practices which are missing in telemedicine. Doctors are unable to carry out physical examinations on patients during such consults. As a result, doctors may miss out on certain diagnosis, such as hypertension, if the patient is unable to provide accurate information. Furthermore, telemedicine operates on patients administering their own medication, which may not be possible without the presence of a doctor. 


Telemedicine has many pros and cons. While the telemedicine industry is growing at an exponential rate, it is ultimately unable to replace physical visits to the doctor. Instead, telemedicine is most beneficial when used in tandem with visits to the doctor.


Sources:

https://vsee.com/what-is-telemedicine/

https://www.todayonline.com/commentary/understand-when-telemedicine-works-and-when-it-doesnt

https://evisit.com/resources/what-is-telemedicine/#2

http://www.rmmagazine.com/2016/08/01/the-benefits-and-risks-of-telemedicine/

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