Replacing in-person treatment, DUI telehealth programs have become increasingly popular due to COVID-19 and safe distancing guidelines. In addition to doctor visits, there are even virtual DUI offender programs being held on Zoom.
How has technology assisted with this latest treatment method? How did telehealth begin in the first place? Compared to in–person treatment, other than a lack of physical interaction, what are the primary differences? Can telehealth eventually replace in-person treatment altogether?
Let’s take a closer look at telehealth, its early days, its uses, and how it differs from in–person treatment.
How Did This All Get Started?
Have you ever wondered how the whole “telehealth” thing started? Why was it created?
Referring to what we now call telehealth, there was a relatively urgent need to achieve substantial quality improvement in how the nation’s healthcare system was designed. It was agreed across the board that information technology would play a central role in the growth of this concept.The concept of telehealth fitted the bill, especially in rural communities.
If you really want to go way back to the beginnings of telehealth, it is importan to note that the demand for remote healthcare has existed from the pre-Hippocrates and Roman times. To relay and gain information regarding symptoms, a diagnosis, treatment, etc., the infirm and/or elderly usually send a representative to complete these tasks.
Smoke signals were used in the past by villagers in Africa to warn of disease outbreaks. With these signals, they would alert neighboring villages so that they could be aware of the crisis. Even with primitive forms of technology and communication, the beginnings of telehealth have existed for ages.
The Uses/Types of Telehealth
Before we look at the different types of telehealth, let’s examine the meanings of telehealth and telemedicine. Telehealth can refer to nonclinical services which are remote. In addition to clinical services, consider administrative meetings, provider training, and continuing medical education.
On the other hand, remote clinical services are specifically referred to as “telemedicine”.
Telehealth technologies includeremote patient monitoring devices, mobile apps, and videoconferencing between patients and medical/service providers. The electronic exchange frequently involves health information or treatment programs.
Below are some of the most common forms of telehealth:
- Medical imaging
- Physician to physician consultations
- Real-time telemedicine
- Store and forward
- Remote patient monitoring
In–Person Treatment Vs. Telehealth – The Differences
Will good old-fashioned in-person visits ever be replaced entirely by telehealth? That scenario is far from probable. There are cases in which a doctor has to practice hands-on medicine, i.e., palpate, listen, and see things up close and personal. Videoconferencing only goes so far compared to a physical, face-to-face, in-person visit. An examination of the tenderness, location, texture, consistency, size, etc., of a body part or organ may not be adequately accomplished via videoconferencing.
When it comes to convenient care from home, few things beat telehealth, especially when a patient cannot visit a doctor to receive treatment or assistance. The invention and implementation of telehealth has helped cut back on healthcare spending!
Will telehealth completely replace in–person visits? Not likely. Compared to in-person healthcare and/or treatment, it can be just as effective when done correctly.
Safe Distance Rehabilitation and DUI Programs
Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, Jackson-Bibby Awareness Group believes that DUI telehealth sessions are the wisest method of promoting rehabilitation, conducting treatment, and keeping everyone safe. For a limited time only, sessions are being managed via an online platform. Once the pandemic is over, however, sessions will resume in person.
Do you have questions about our DUI programs? Contact us today or check out our FAQs.
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