Telemedicine and outcome in patient care: Review

Telemedicine is a term given to the use of electronic and telecommunication methods in patient’s healthcare. Presently it is being used for diagnostic, treatment and research purposes. Since the recent pandemic telemedicine has become more transformative and has enhanced patient’s access to different medical settings across the globe, this review will evaluate the role of telemedicine in improving patient outcomes. The management of chronic diseases in areas of the world where specialty medical services are not easily accessible has been evaluated along with the patient's involvement and use of modern and state-of-the-art technologies. The overall findings indicate that telemedicine has improved the patient's ability to actively participate in their health management, with more compliance toward the management of the medical problem and fewer OPD visits. On the other hand, it encourages fewer doctor and paramedical staff requirements for a particular population size and the limited role of physical examination of the patient.