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Discussion 1

Telehealth is defined as the delivery of health care services at a distance through the use of technology (Watson, 2020). Virtual health care or telehealth allows the health care provider to care for the patient without the patient coming to the office physically. Telehealth is done primarily only with internet access on your computer, tablet, or smartphone (Telehealth.gov). It can be used to improve ongoing health issues for patients. Telehealth can also be used by the health care provider to give lab results, medication changes, post-surgical follow-ups, and mental health treatments. Benefits of telehealth include reducing the contact with others while sick, ensuring health care wherever you care are located, and shortening the wait time for appointments.

Reference:

Watson, S. (2020, October 12). Telehealth: The advantages and disadvantages. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/tel…

What is telehealth? Telehealth.HHS.gov. (n.d.).https://telehealth.hhs.gov/patients/understanding-…

Discussion 2

Healthcare is constantly evolving. It is imperative to stay up to date when it comes to caring for patients. I have witnessed Telehealth nursing transform throughout the pandemic. Virtual health technologies have improved peopleàhealth and broadened the opportunity to provide basic services to people across the world. Telehealth also known as telemedicine, lets your health care provider care for you without an in-person office visit (What is telehealth, 2022). It is typically done online with internet access on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. The services that can be provided via virtual care are; ab test or x-ray results, Mental health treatment, including online therapy, counseling, and medication management, Recurring conditions like migraines or urinary tract infections, Skin conditions, Prescription management, Post-surgical follow-up, Treatment and follow-up appointments for attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Physical therapy and occupational therapy, and Urgent care issues like colds, coughs, and stomach aches (2022). I have also seen virtual care used for safety as a sitter to monitor high fall risk patients.

There are numerous benefits when utilizing virtual care. Virtual visits ensure you get health care wherever you are at home, at work or even in your car, cut down on travel, time off from work, need for child care, shorten the wait for an appointment, and increases access to specialists who are located far away from your hometown (Hasselfeld, 2022). It also helps protect healthcare workers from being exposed to highly contagious illnesses. Overall, it has enhanced healthcare and saved lives.

References

Hasselfeld, B. W. (2022, January 18). Benefits of telemedicine. Benefits of Telemedicine | Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/benefits-of-telemedicine

What is telehealth? Telehealth.HHS.gov. (2022, June 29). Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://telehealth.hhs.gov/patients/understanding-telehealth/