Article originally featured in European Hospital and Healthcare Management
Dr. Seleem R. Choudhury, Chief Operating Officer, Adventist HealthCare & Shady Grove Medical Center
Hospitals are increasingly using telemedicine to manage non-critical cases remotely, streamline operations, and focus resources on urgent care. Telemedicine is especially beneficial for poor countries because it helps overcome critical barriers to healthcare, such as limited infrastructure, shortages of doctors, and long travel distances to hospitals. By using mobile phones or internet connections, patients in remote or underserved areas can consult with doctors without needing to travel, which saves time and money while increasing access to medical advice and treatment.
In countries where hospitals are underfunded and overcrowded, telemedicine also helps reduce the burden on healthcare facilities by managing non-critical cases remotely. This allows limited medical resources, such as hospital beds, staff, and equipment, to be focused on the most urgent and life-threatening cases. In short, telemedicine provides a cost-effective way to expand healthcare access and improve outcomes in low-resource settings.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift, proving the resilience and efficiency of telemedicine during crises. From rural healthcare workers empowered with remote training and support and strengthened frontline services to private hospitals and startups driving innovation and offering on-demand consultations, telemedicine offers digital health solutions that make healthcare more patient-centered and accessible around the globe.