30Oct 2023
The coronavirus pandemic has been a difficult time, presenting us with numerous challenges that have forced us to quickly adapt new practices aimed at safeguarding health and well-being.
The changes that had to be made to adapt led to new (and better) ways of doing things, virtual healthcare being one of them. Virtual healthcare and telemedicine have changed the way Canadians receive healthcare and medical services, and that’s a good thing. The shift towards telehealth was already ongoing before the pandemic, but COVID accelerated it.
Virtual healthcare affords Canadian patients many benefits that save them time and money, and ultimately enable them to be healthier. This post will explore some of those benefits.
1. Convenience and Accessibility
The great thing about virtual healthcare is that it can be done anywhere, at any time, from the comfort of your own home.
Virtual healthcare enables Canadian patients to receive quality care anywhere they have an internet connection. That eliminates the need to take time out of your busy schedule to consult with a healthcare professional.
A report by Canada Health Infoway showed that virtual care can save patients on average $50 per visit in travel costs, and $43 per visit in lost productivity during working hours. No more waiting for hours in traffic. No more waiting in line at the doctor’s office.
This is particularly useful for anyone living in more rural or remote parts of Canada like Alberta or Saskatchewan, that might have more limited access to healthcare services in their own communities. It’s also a potential lifesaver for people who have mobility issues.
2. Improved Communication and Personalized Care
Having access to remote virtual healthcare visits on your laptop gives you a direct line of communication with your healthcare provider, and enables them to serve you with much more personalized care that’s tailored to your needs and situation.
Virtual healthcare streamlines clear and direct communication between you and your doctor, and lets you more easily consult with a wider range of specialists. That can help them create a personalized treatment plan for you if you deal with a chronic illness like diabetes or heart disease. It also gives you a way to easily access your health records.
3. Patient Empowerment and Engagement
When you manage your healthcare online through virtual healthcare tools, you’re given the power to take ownership of your healthcare decisions, make informed, important decisions about your healthcare, and educate yourself about the conditions you’re managing.
Interacting with your doctors through virtual healthcare portals enables you to communicate with your doctor more frequently and share more information and updates without barriers. A 2020 study showed that 80% of Canadians who had a virtual visit felt more engaged in their care.
4. Better Health Outcomes
All the benefits of virtual healthcare come together to improve your health.
Having more frequent, cost-effective, and easier access to your doctor helps to track your health progress more efficiently, be proactive about your health choices, and help make sure that when you need care, you receive it as soon as possible.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information reported that virtual care visits can reduce hospital readmissions and ER visits. When hospitals delegate non-urgent matters to telehealth visits, they can allocate valuable resources and manpower to issues that require immediate attention. That leads to better health outcomes, both for you and patients throughout the county.
Better Advice, Better Access, and Better Health
Telehealth solutions make healthcare easy, more convenient, more effective, and more cost-efficient.
The ease of access and communication afforded by virtual healthcare removes the limitations of traditional in-person doctor visits and lets you take more control of how you manage your health.
With over 30 years specializing in Canada, and providing service to over 9 million Canadians, Teladoc delivers quality care for you. Connect with us today, and learn what Teladoc can do for you.