Treating an aging population can be a complicated matter. From the general complaints of aging to more sophisticated diseases like cancers and new antibiotic-resistant infections—geriatric medicine continues to get more complex.

Providing effective healthcare for the aging population is a continual challenge and their propensity to travel only adds to the difficulty. Technology is now making it possible for a patient to have a separate team of healthcare professionals in the region they live, as well as a single team of experts that work with local providers to ensure consistency of treatment. Make sure your patients are always cared for, regardless of their location, by utilizing telemedicine and mobile diagnostic services.

Telemedicine – Virtual Healthcare?

One of the common misconceptions of telemedicine is that it is “virtual healthcare”. This is real healthcare from real professionals and is making quality care more accessible to many across the world.

There are two primary forms of telemedicine: the first connecting patients to clinicians and the second is connecting clinicians to each other.

Connecting Patients To Doctors Everywhere

Telemedicine allows patients the opportunity to have consultations over the phone, web conferences, and text and instant messaging services. In its simple form, telemedicine allows the general public to get treatment and prescriptions without having to actually travel to their doctor’s office.

Telemedicine can even allow clinicians to supervise a treatment process for chronic conditions while the patient executes the treatment themselves. This allows the patient’s medical team to monitor any areas of concern while the patient is traveling or away from their facilities, even though it may not take the place of seeing a doctor face-to-face on a regular basis.

This can be revolutionary for geriatric patients. In 2005, over 800,000 elderly migrated to Florida alone during the colder months. That means these patients have lost physical accessibility to their primary healthcare team. This number has only increased since that time, meaning more people are finding it difficult to receive consistent treatment.

Unfortunately, many aging patients also become homebound. Telemedicine offers these patients the ability to continue to meet with their healthcare team, either on their own or with the help of a visiting nurse or caseworker. Properly trained aides and nurses can help doctors perform a variety of tests right in a patient’s home, allowing for a much wider range of medical accessibility than ever before.

Giving Experts Greater Resources

One of the challenges for patients living in rural areas is the distance from healthcare experts. It can require them to relocate in order to receive proper treatment for more complex conditions.

Telemedicine is revolutionizing this perception of receiving expert care. Doctors can easily consult with the patient and with other doctors, regardless of location, thereby increasing everyone’s level of expertise by increasing the pool of knowledge available.

This means that relative remoteness to large healthcare facilities is no longer a primary concern for where geriatric patients travel and reside. Experts in every field can be consulted to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment, regardless of the facilities closest to the patient.

Telemedicine and mobile diagnostic solutions are making access to expert healthcare easier than ever before, especially for those who travel or have trouble leaving home. Coupling your expertise with our mobile imaging services can allow your patients to receive a level of attention they didn’t think was possible. Don’t make your geriatric patients travel when they’re unable—participating in telemedicine services can help them and you.