Before the Covid-19 pandemic, telehealth wasn’t a reality for many and was more of a goal that was in the pipeline for the future. However, the pandemic has brought about major changes in this area and now developments in telehealth are firing ahead. 
 
In recent years, technology has often been viewed as a limiting factor in healthcare, mostly in terms of patients having the knowledge to use it and having access to the appropriate internet connection. These issues are largely easy to overcome and since the Covid-19 pandemic began, healthcare professionals and patients are more able to adapt to new ways of working and accessing essential services. 
 
There’s no doubt that some patients, especially the elderly or vulnerable, may still need assistance in accessing virtual care, but it’s something that professionals are more aware of and many are now fully equipped to offer support with this. The expansion of telehealth has brought many benefits to professionals and patients too; it has led to patients spending less time travelling to and from appointments, and it has reduced the time spent in waiting rooms while still being able to access an receive a high quality of care. Technology with telehealth capabilities is also allowing healthcare professionals to provide care to those who aren’t able to access it as easily, such as those who live in remote locations or are unable to travel. 
 
This progress is allowing many healthcare systems to provide essential services to patients that might have otherwise not been able to gain access to it. It is also important to note that in the years to come telehealth may not exist as a standalone concept and will just be ‘healthcare.’ As more and more patients and healthcare professionals use it, telehealth will become a staple part of the treatment process. Doctors may even end up caring for more patients than they would in person as there’s less administrative work to be done. They will have the support of interactive telehealth platforms and many of the time-consuming tasks can be self-serving for the patients or done automatically. 
 
With patients becoming accustomed to this level of access, it’s a sure thing that we won’t ever head back to not having virtual care. Continued growth will be sustained in the years to come as easier access to healthcare is the goal in most healthcare systems and that goes from hospital care to eye care. This increased access with the added benefit of telehealth aiding in preventative care, is only going to increase its growth and it will continue to be embraced by both professionals and patients. 

 
IbisVision provides remote vision testing software to the optical industry. Get in touch with us today to hear more about our telehealth capabilities, and how it can benefit you in attracting and treating more patients. Contact us, here.