Changes in Healthcare Brought on by COVID-19:

COVID-19 has changed the way life works for everyone in the world. Masks must be worn, and distance must be maintained between people, even loved ones; healthcare is no different. We have experienced the changes in our daily lives, but some of us may not know how the healthcare experience has changed. A recent article from FacilitiesNet dives into two of the largest changes caused by COVID-19: increased use of both telemedicine and touchless technology.

Telemedicine refers to the diagnoses and treatment of patients through the use of telecommunication technology. Telemedicine, according to the article, has had an upward trend when it comes to both patient and provider interests; the pandemic has made it more accessible for both. Telemedicine helps prevent the spread of infection and disease by keeping low-risk patients at home and isolated while high-risk patients can get appropriate care in the facility. This is positive for flattening the curve as well as keeping hospitals and physician’s offices from being overwhelmed. The article points out another positive in relation to accessibility for rural patients: “Telemedicine can also be helpful to people who live in rural areas and may require extensive driving in order to be seen by a health professional.”

Touchless technology lets healthcare providers examine multiple patients without the risk of transferring harmful germs that can cause illness. This can include touchless thermometers for temperature checks, and some healthcare providers have opted to use touchless kiosks and phone apps for checking patients in. Though these new technologies do not come entirely without difficulty, the article points out that the implementation of “touchless technology can be difficult at both ends of the age spectrum.” Healthcare workers have experienced challenges transitioning older adult patients to new technology, while they find it difficult for younger patients to understand that they cannot touch everything.

Though these changes were caused by something negative, they have increased accessibility to medicine as well as created a more robust system for fighting against the spread of disease. The pandemic still rages on, with more than two hundred thousand daily cases in the United States alone. We all must continue in our resilience by remembering the three W’s: Wear a Mask, Wait six feet apart, and Wash your hands regularly.

Author: Bret Reynolds, OEM Exchange
Published: December 8, 2020