Telemedicine has been around for about two decades, but its adoption in many countries has been limited. A typical example is the United States, where the pandemic has brought many changes to this sector. With millions of people across the country forced to stay at home during the lockdown and worried about possible infection with the virus, many are turning to the virtual consultation services of telemedicine companies. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people who contract COVID-19 have a mild illness and can recover at home. Telemedicine companies give patients the opportunity to talk about their symptoms and decide whether or not they need to be hospitalized. CareClix -based telemedicine company, reported that traffic to its platform increased by 3,600% in 11 days last month.
The two companies have different approaches to telemedicine. CareClix, founded in 2012, connects patients with doctors via a video platform, offering a conversation similar to what they would have with their doctor on FaceTime, said CareClix co-founder and CEO John Korangy. While technology is used by hospital networks and U.S. health care providers, the company also has an in-house team of doctors who can provide services remotely to patients.
Zipnosis, on the other hand, operates on what’s known as “asynchronous care,” where the doctor and patient don’t need to be in the same place at the same time. The company, founded a decade ago, lets users fill out a virtual questionnaire via a chatbot-like tool that processes their answers and displays them to the doctor for review and diagnosis. Zipnosis claims this can greatly speed up the process, allowing doctors to make a diagnosis in 89 seconds, on average.
However, telemedicine has its limitations. In particular, some complex diagnoses and treatments require in-person interactions. If a patient appears particularly ill, telemedicine companies recommend that they go to a clinic or hospital . The technology can significantly help healthcare professionals, especially at a time when the global pandemic is putting pressure on healthcare systems and individuals as they constantly look for ways to manage this crisis. Finally, CareClix has begun offering free COVID-19 assessments to users of its platform, while more than 40% of healthcare providers using Zipnosis’ technology are also offering free consultations.
