Blog #5

Technology has taken over several aspects of people’s personal lives. It has even managed to grab ahold of the way we monitor our health.

Telemedicine is widely known as online access to any type of physician, whether it is for psychological issues or physical problems. Communicating with a doctor from your computer at home has completely changed the game as far as social support. It makes it simple for people who may not want to leave the house.

For example, this benefits people who may suffer from anxiety disorder and are afraid to step foot out the door to seek help.

Telemedicine may also interest an old woman in a wheel chair who struggles to get in and out of her car. With online assistance, she could get the help she needed from her wheel chair in the comfort of her own home. My great grandma, who recently passed away, enjoyed the idea of telemedicine. She would sit on her iPad and communicate with her physician about the progress of her health. She believed it was a perfect way to keep track of her well-being.

While telemedicine has a proven to have its perks, it also has negative outcomes as well.

Studies show that between telemedicine and interpersonal appointments, the length of the visit was the same. However, the actual meeting itself differed. Physicians talked 145 percent more than the patients with telecommunication. Whereas with interpersonal, they spoke 113 percent more than the patients. This is without a doubt an unfavorable quality of telemedicine. It becomes less about the patient, and more about the physician.

There have also been studies that prove physicians are more likely to use orienting statements through interpersonal appointments. Meaning, the patients are chronologically informed of what the physician is doing.

During my Thanksgiving break I crammed in several doctors appointments. I met with my optometrist, dentist, otolaryngologist and gynecologist. Each one of my doctors spent time asking me about my personal life before they get began talking about my health. It made me feel comfortable enough speak, not just listen. All of my doctors told me exactly what it was that they were doing, as they were doing it. Physically being in front of them gave me the aptitude to ask questions without hesitation. The reasoning for this is because there were nonverbal cues given. The overall experience, for me, was much more satisfying than that of an online appointment.

I do, however, use informational support for minor issues. I will use sites similar to OCDtribe.com if I am showing unusual symptoms. For example, about 2 months ago I had a strange, and very large, bump on the outer part of my thigh. It worried me, but not enough to go to a doctor. I googled my symptoms and it took me to a few websites that explained the possible answers to my bump. Come to find out, it was an ingrown hair and it was irritated from my rusty razor.

Telemedicine is a great medium for minor issues, such as my bump. It gives you information quick. It has its benefits without a doubt. But again, with bigger problems, interpersonal appointments are much more satisfying. You gain more from them in the long run.