In today’s world, telemedicine is rapidly gaining popularity, offering the opportunity to receive medical advice without leaving home. With the help of video communication or special applications, you can quickly contact a doctor, get a diagnosis and even a prescription for medicine. Sounds like the solution to all healthcare problems, right? However, the reality is far from so unambiguous.
Is telemedicine the future of medicine or a dangerous experiment with our health? In a world where consultation with a doctor can be obtained through a smartphone screen, the boundaries between the patient and the medical institution are disappearing. But aren’t we missing something important along the way? Maybe the convenience of remote medicine hides threats to the quality of treatment? Are we ready to entrust our own health to technologies that cannot replace personal contact with a doctor?
Innovation in medical services
Telemedicine, as an innovation in medicine, began to gain momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic and due to limited access to medical services in rural areas. It became not just a part of medical reform, but a reaction to modern challenges. After all, it is thanks to telemedicine that it is possible to conduct remote consultations, monitor the state of health of patients, and exchange medical data between doctors and patients. This becomes especially relevant in the conditions of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, when it became impossible to provide full-fledged medical services in the territories where active hostilities are taking place due to the destroyed medical facilities and the forced evacuation of medical personnel to safe places. In addition, the mass displacement of the population significantly worsened the quality and availability of medical services. Even before the start of the war, vulnerable categories of the population faced significant difficulties in obtaining medical care. Therefore, one of the possible ways to support the health care system was the implementation of remote telemedical interaction technologies with medical specialists, which provides prompt, safe and secure communication between medical institutions, doctors and other medical workers, which allows to effectively provide medical assistance to patients with injuries , injuries and other emergencies.
Among the main types of telemedicine, the following are distinguished:
- synchronous telemedicine – direct communication between the doctor and the patient is carried out in real time through video conferences, audio communication or online chats. Used for consultations, discussing symptoms or diagnosis, providing urgent medical advice.
- asynchronous telemedicine – the interaction between the doctor and the patient is carried out in a different period of time. The patient sends medical data to the doctor, such as test results, X-rays, medical histories. The doctor analyzes the data and sends a response with a diagnosis or recommendations. As an example, you can cite electronic medical consultations through specialized platforms or e-mail.
- telemonitoring or remote monitoring of patients – is carried out to monitor the condition of patients at a distance using special devices such as heart monitors, glucometers, heart rate monitors that transmit data to the doctor. As a rule, this method of telemedicine is used for chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension or during postoperative supervision.
- teleradiology – involves remote transmission and analysis of X-rays, CT, MRI and other radiological images. It is used to quickly receive consultations from specialists from various medical institutions, regardless of geographical location.
- telepsychiatry – a type of telemedicine carried out via video calls or audio communication and used for remote consultations in the field of mental health, in particular for therapy, psychiatric evaluations and support of patients with disorders.
- telemedicine in emergency cases – is used when transporting a patient to a hospital or in remote areas where there are no doctors. May include transmission of video or other data to remote medical professionals to provide emergency medical advice.
- tele-oncology – used to provide consultations to oncology patients. Provides an opportunity to discuss treatment plans, obtain a second medical opinion from different clinics.
- teleophthalmology – used for remote diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases using digital images or specialized tests.
At first glance, the advantages of telemedicine are obvious. After all, it makes medical services accessible to people living even in the most remote corners of the country. For those who live far from large cities or in countries with weak infrastructure, this may be the only way to consult a doctor. Patients no longer need to stand for hours in endless queues of polyclinics, the costs of transport and administrative services are reduced, they can receive a consultation at a time convenient for him, which is especially important for people with tight work schedules, as well as for the elderly or people with disabilities. Thanks to telemedicine, the risks of infection with infectious diseases have significantly decreased, because there is no direct contact between patients. And the process of diagnosis in uncomplicated cases is carried out much faster. Without wasting time, the doctor quickly prescribes basic treatment or refers the patient, if necessary, to further examinations.
The spread of telemedicine in numbers and new opportunities
For data of the Ministry of Health, by the beginning of 2024, telemedicine services will be available in more than 65% of primary care medical facilities.
Among the most active regions in the implementation of telemedicine are:
- Kyiv region: about 75% of primary care facilities actively use telemedicine services.
- Lviv region: about 70% of hospitals provide telemedicine services, especially in remote areas.
- Dnipropetrovsk region: about 68% of institutions implemented telemedical consultations, in particular for cardiology and endocrinology patients.
- Transcarpathian region: about 60% of medical facilities use telemedicine technologies to provide consultations in mountainous areas where access to medical services was previously limited.
In rural areas of Chernivtsi and Kherson regions, the problem of shortage of medical workers was solved thanks to telemedicine. Currently, 50-55% of doctors in rural outpatient clinics use telemedicine technologies for consultations with specialists from regional centers.
By 2026, the state plans to integrate 90% of Ukrainian medical institutions into the telemedicine system. In addition, it is planned to expand the list of specialized telemedical services, such as psychiatry and cardiology. All these measures will help reduce the burden on hospitals and improve access to quality medical services in all regions of the country.
Today, thanks to telemedicine, it is possible to solve a number of medical problems. Thus, telemedicine allows to automate most of the monitoring processes of patients, especially chronically ill patients, which greatly simplifies the management of their treatment and diagnosis. This helps reduce the burden on primary care doctors: family doctors, therapists, and pediatricians. Also, one of the tasks of telemedicine is to provide opportunities for improving the qualifications of doctors and medical workers by providing platforms for conducting online training, which allows conducting remote trainings and seminars, promotes the exchange of experience by specialists from different parts of the world.
Imagine a world where recovery from severe brain or musculoskeletal injuries is accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live. The telemedicine platform of neurosensory rehabilitation “Rehabilitation Gaming System” offers just that – an innovative approach to restoring health with the help of advanced technologies. Patients can do rehabilitation exercises at home using computers, gadgets and augmented reality tools. It’s not just therapy – it’s a game that helps you get back to normal life, where every successful movement becomes a step towards full recovery.
The “Epiqar” platform opens new horizons in surgery, allowing doctors from all over the world to observe complex operations in real time and participate in consultations, even if they are on another continent. Cloud technologies guarantee data security, and the interactive format enables instant response and exchange of experience. This is the future of surgery, where distance is no longer an obstacle for quality medical care and the training of new generations of doctors.
What if you had a doctor at home who is always there, even if he is not physically there? This is what the “HomeDoctor” medical robot provides. It monitors your health indicators, detects any abnormalities and instantly transmits this information to the hospital. If necessary, the doctor can give recommendations or make a diagnosis remotely, and the system will automatically send the relevant data for further evaluation. This is a new level of home care that ensures safety and timely medical care, even if you are far from medical facilities.
In addition, the “System Carebits” telemedicine platform allows remote monitoring of the condition of a pregnant woman and her future child. Thanks to “Sigmafon” portable tococardiography devices, doctors can obtain the necessary data at any time and detect possible threats in time. It is not just convenient – it saves lives, ensuring constant monitoring of the health of the mother and child, regardless of the circumstances.
Artificial intelligence “Brain Scan” came to the aid of telemedicine, which instantly analyzes CT images and helps detect the smallest brain pathologies. Thanks to artificial intelligence, it minimizes the risk of human error, helps less experienced doctors and shortens the time for making a diagnosis. In a world where every second is worth its weight in gold, BrainScan becomes a reliable ally of doctors, guaranteeing the highest quality of medical care for every patient.
Experience of implementing telemedicine in foreign countries
The experience of using telemedicine in foreign countries shows its effectiveness in solving many problems of health care systems. In different countries, telemedicine is used at different levels, and its integration into health care systems significantly changes the access of patients to medical services.
The USA is one of the leaders in implementing telemedicine. The use of telemedicine platforms has grown significantly in the country over the past few years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies such as Teladoc Health, Amwell, and MDLive provide a wide range of services, from general medical consultations to specialized psychotherapy. Remote consultations are widely used in the US to provide psychological and psychiatric care, which significantly reduces barriers for patients with mental health problems.
In Great Britain, telemedicine is used as part of the National Health Service (NHS). Telemedicine services were significantly expanded during the pandemic. So-called “digital clinics” can diagnose chronic diseases (for example, diabetes) remotely, using mobile applications to monitor the condition of patients. And platforms like IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) actively offer psychotherapy and psychological counseling online.
Germany is also actively implementing telemedicine, especially as part of the Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen (DiGA) project, which supports the use of digital applications for diagnosis and treatment. Patients may be reimbursed for the use of telemedicine applications if they are prescribed by a physician and approved at the state level. Doctors provide remote treatment of chronic diseases by monitoring the condition of patients with diabetes, hypertension or other chronic diseases through mobile applications and remote sensors.
In Sweden, telemedicine is an integral part of the state health care system. Services such as Kry and Min Doktor allow patients to consult doctors through apps. Patients can receive both recommendations and prescriptions from the comfort of their homes. Mobile applications are also actively used in the country to monitor patients’ health, especially in cases of chronic diseases and in the postoperative period.
In China, telemedicine is growing at an extremely fast pace, thanks to heavy investment in AI-enabled technology platforms. Companies like Ping An Good Doctor are using AI to provide initial consultations and diagnoses. In addition to Western medicine, telemedicine services for traditional Chinese medicine are being actively implemented in China.
In general, the experience of different countries demonstrates that telemedicine not only facilitates access to medical services, but also improves the quality of medical care, especially for patients in remote regions or with chronic diseases. An important success factor is support at the state level and the availability of technical infrastructure.
Actual problems of telemedicine implementation
However, every medal has a flip side. In order to carry out full-fledged communication, a high-quality Internet connection must be available both on the part of the doctor and on the part of the patient. Video communication can be unreliable due to weak internet, and technical failures can complicate or disrupt the consultation. But about 30% of rural areas still have problems with access to high-speed Internet. And this becomes a serious problem for the introduction of telemedicine. However, not every elderly person has gadgets or easily uses the achievements of modern technologies, and therefore telemedical services remain out of reach for them.
At the same time, software failures or technical problems can interrupt a consultation with a doctor, which affects the quality of medical care. It is worth noting that telemedicine raises a number of issues regarding the leakage of confidential information due to unauthorized access or inadequate protection of telemedicine platforms.
What happens if a wrong diagnosis is made through a remote consultation? Who will be responsible for this? In addition, it is extremely important that the legislative framework for telemedicine has not yet been fully developed in Ukraine. The issue of the responsibility of doctors in case of incorrect diagnosis or treatment through telemedicine services requires additional regulation.
At present, most patients question the diagnosis thanks to telemedicine and complain about the lack of personal contact with the doctor, which not only helps to build trust, but also often contributes to a better understanding of the problem and its treatment. A doctor at a distance cannot conduct a high-quality examination or carry out diagnostic manipulations, which sometimes makes it difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. Telemedicine also cannot always provide the emotional support and sense of care that patients receive during an in-person consultation.
Telemedicine is undoubtedly an important tool of the future that can improve access to health services. It is rapidly developing due to the introduction of the latest technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and mobile applications for self-monitoring of health. In the future, telemedicine may become an even more important component of health care systems, especially in cases where access to medical services is limited or unavailable. But in order for it to become really effective, it is necessary to maintain a balance between remote consultations and a traditional approach. Physicians and patients should remember that technology is only a tool to assist, but cannot replace, the personal medical interaction.
Telemedicine is both a revolution and a risk. It gives convenience, speed and accessibility, but doesn’t it limit us in something bigger – real, deep medical analysis? Technologies will not replace the experienced view of a doctor, and diagnoses through a screen can be expensive if we choose them as the main method of treatment. The future is telemedicine, but it must be thought out and balanced. Because when it comes to health, convenience should not become more important than quality.
