No matter how advanced technology gets, it can never be a substitute for good doctors and medical workers. During this year alone, health care professionals from all over the world have been putting themselves in a harmful way to treat COVID-19 patients. In times like this it is more important than ever that everyone has access to a doctor. But, according to statistics from the WHO, China has 19.79 medical doctors per 10,000 people (2017), the US has 26.12, and the UK has 27.86.
However, the rise of telemedicine allows doctors to make better use of their time and provides better health care access, especially for those in rural areas. Telemedicine is the remote delivery of health care services, including online consultations and diagnoses, and remote patient monitoring.
According to the World Economy Forum, nearly every other industry adopted widespread use of conference calls, and more recently, used video chats in order to cooperate remotely, while health care providers and patients both hesitated to adopt these tools to deliver health care. However, COVID-19 could push them to adopt the new approach. Having one of the best health care systems in the world, Switzerland already offers virtual video appointments for private patients, and with cloud computing, this care can go even further.
With patient data being stored in the cloud, medical records can be easily shared and updated by all health care providers when required. With the addition of powerful cloud networks, wearable technology, such as bracelets, can monitor a patient's key signs from their homes, removing the need for hospital care.
Seema, administrator of Medicare and Medicaid Centre, told the Wall Street Journal, "The arrival of telehealth has been just completely speeded, and it's taken this crisis to push us to a new frontier." Indeed, telemedicine will have a huge effect on medical care, allowing for more personalized treatment of patients after COVID-19 has relieved.
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