The latest health events were an important boost for the different telemedicine systems, whose use has increased exponentially, especially since 2020. And it is that the confinement caused a large part of the patients to undertake a shift to virtual channels for your health and that of your family members. In fact, telemedicine has become a particularly useful system for the control and monitoring of the health status of the senior population, which exceeds 9.38 million people over the age of 64 according to data from the National Institute of Statistics, as of January 1, 2021.
According to data from the platform, Top Doctors, up to 20% of telemedicine consultations have been with patients older than 64 years, either directly, or by a family member or caregiver. In this way, they can have doctor-patient communication in real time, monitor any chronic pathology, request prescriptions or solve doubts without having to travel, among other functionalities.
Within this population sector, the most demanded specialties through the Top Doctors platform are Dentistry and Stomatology (15.23%), Psychology (9.38%) and Ophthalmology (6.94%).
Telemedicine, key in regions with deficiencies
Spain currently occupies the 38th position, of the 44 economies analysed, in giving adequate treatment to retirees, according to a study prepared by Nataxis Investment Managers, in which the material means to live comfortably, access to quality financial services, access to quality health services, etc. are valued. The only point in which Spain has improved it’s in the toiletbeing the 4th country in the world with the highest life expectancy, as well as in quality of life.
In this context, telemedicine has contributed to providing care to the elderly population in the most critical moments of confinement. Likewise, telemedicine has made it possible to provide services in areas with ‘medical deserts’cities and rural areas in which there is no presence, or very little, of medical specialists, places that in turn have a greater weight of the senior population.
“67% of consultations via chat or video from the Top Doctors platform are made from areas with a lack of specialized medical assistance, which are in turn areas with a very large elderly population. For us it is very important to offer telemedicine services in these areas to democratize access to first level specialists and with reduced waiting times”, explains Alberto E. Porciani, CEO of Top Doctors.
Top Doctors experts review the main advantages of using telemedicine in care and follow-up of the health of the elderly:
- Helps solve quickly and efficiently certain patient problems where it is not necessary to carry out an immediate physical examination, which avoids unnecessary travel, especially in people with mobility problems, or with a lack of means.
- Reduce absenteeism in consultation. One of the main problems in the health sector is the fact that many patients, with a defined appointment, finally do not come to it. Telemedicine reduces this absenteeism due to the convenience and efficiency it offers to patients.
- Offer a second medical opinion. More and more patients seek a specialized medical opinion for specific problems, so making this consultation through videoconference helps to have more than one opinion for problems that are difficult to manage and solve.
- 360º control. The use of platforms that provide a complete service for the care of the elderly will help to have control of the state of health from the moment a person detects any symptom, until they have a diagnosis, contact and are treated with the expert, and even until they you get your treatment and it is dispensed by the pharmacy.
- Closeness and responsible treatment. Also through video consultation, the doctor-patient relationship should be cared for based on empathy, containment and warm and close treatment to establish the best therapeutic strategy for each patient individually.
- Data security. Specialists must use the appropriate tools, those that give guarantees to patients that their information will be treated through the data encryption and conservation policies that govern nationally and internationally.
In short, the care of the elderly, which requires a significant investment in time and attention, is simplified through telemedicine systems, by being able to have complete and periodic control and monitoring, from anywhere and at any time, sharing images, tests and videos. This not only improves the quality of life of the patient, but also that of caregivers and family members.
