With the passage of time, humans have achieved remarkable success in devising ways and technologies for the wellbeing of mankind. The Internet is a blessing that has changed our lives completely. It has influenced our daily working habits and approaches toward different situations.
Internet accessibility via smartphones has made life easier and technology is affordable now. This advancement has cleared the path for success in everyday life and elevated the level of service delivery in many sectors including economy and healthcare.
With the help of new technologies, the healthcare system has grown manifolds and it is going to be at an amazing level in the next few years. Advancement in the healthcare system is essential as compared to any other area because it is a matter of human survival. We are living in an era where we are extremely busy in daily work life and don’t give proper concentration on our health. Our health gets compromised and our focus remains on our job and business, so we ignore the fact that health and life goals should go side by side.
In old times, there were a few hospitals and healthcare centers that were available to the masses living in the bigger cities. People from the countryside had to travel long ways to reach these facilities. Then small healthcare centers started building in remote areas too and these days, we can access these services online, thanks to the marvelous advancements in technology.
According to a study, 5% of the searches on Google are related to healthcare which shows that people are looking for healthcare information on the Internet. It also means that they can find relevant and trusted information digitally. In this post, we will discuss the effectiveness of online healthcare so the readers can understand the power of online information.
1. Worldwide Accessibility
The purpose of building an online healthcare service providing system is to give ease to both patient and doctor. Patients can have easy access to their medical records and laboratory reports from anywhere in the world. They can also set appointments with the doctors and can see any change in their appointment prior to the meeting. Building and maintaining proper communication with the healthcare providers was never this easy.
For doctors, it is very easy and practical to keep checking the health status of their patients while they are on the move. This service is beneficial especially for elderly patients and those with chronic diseases who need doctor’s advice on a regular basis. You can click here to get more details on the online healthcare.
2. Availability on Popular Digital Platforms
Online healthcare services are available on websites, popular forums, and social networking sites. Online healthcare providers and communities have groups related to all types of medical conditions. From severely acute to chronic disease to calorie count forums, all health issues are addressed in these services.
According to a health behavioral intent study conducted by WEGO, 87% of the participants said that they use Facebook posts to share health-related information. Online healthcare service provides open and closed forums for different health issues to keep patients’ privacy on top of the priorities’ list. Different blogs and articles are added consistently for creating awareness about outbreak diseases and researches. These online services are an easy and useful platform for interaction between patients and healthcare providers. Your queries related to any health issue are answered by many healthcare professionals in just a few minutes.
3. Seek Advice and Information
It is proven from research that people, after being diagnosed with certain health issues, always consult other healthcare professionals for thorough reviews on the condition and better treatment options. The online healthcare services provide an open and convenient platform to discuss your health issues with more than one healthcare providers or you can consult specialists for your issues. You can also use various community forums to discuss specific issues with people suffering from the same health condition. It provides you guidance and moral support.
4. Cost-Effective Consultation
If you want to consult a certain specialist, you will have to pay a handsome fee for just seeking a second opinion; but online healthcare service gives a platform to seek advice about your health issues with the specialist in a zero amount of money. There are many online healthcare providers who go through your symptoms and lab reports and give you a definite diagnosis with a treatment option. You can consult multiple health professionals on a single platform which definitely gives you better care and treatment options.
5. Better Patient Experience
As everything from the patient-doctor conversation, lab records and prescriptions are online, both doctors and patients have access to the whole data round the clock. You can access the internet from anywhere in the world and stay in touch with your health professional. It allows patients to have better compliance and adherence to the treatment plan. It shows better results because patients don’t have to physically see the doctor all the time.
6. Acknowledgement of positive events and success
A slight pat on the back will surely appreciate your hard work and encourage you towards your goals. At open forums, where everyone is fighting with health issues, sharing a success story of recovery gives others a ray of hope with similar health conditions. Your healthcare professional has all your current data, which allows him to monitor your progress regularly. It also allows the doctor the freedom to modify your treatment plan when needed.
7. Convenient Data Recording
Some physical health centers have also introduced online services. These services provide you to set an appointment with your doctor and have all your lab reports on your user ID generated by the hospital. In fact, you can check the reviews and success stories about the doctor by different patients. It reduces the cost and chance of human error as all the provided data is available online.
Conclusion
Just imagine, a patient, who has access to health professionals 24/7, can consult a health professional in an emergency even when he can’t make it to the hospital. He gets instant guidance online on how to handle the situation. Online healthcare is surely a blessing among modern inventions and online healthcare services are helping the community in various ways.
Online healthcare service does not mean to replace physical health centers and hospitals. These online platforms are made for quick assistance and convenience of the people. Online healthcare service is effective for the community to gain more and more information regarding health issues and their diagnosis.
Kim Marks 
Nina Smith