Are Telemedicine Apps A Viable Choice For Rural Healthcare?

The concept of telemedicine apps was introduced in the 1960s and ’70s. Before the pandemic, Telemedicine App Development was just a concept, but after the hit of COVID-19, telemedicine apps have gained much attention, and now it's become part of life. 

Telemedicine solutions are an application that provides healthcare services remotely using telecommunication and information technologies.  This technology is especially advantageous to people who reside in remote regions and may require easy access to healthcare services. 

To consider this point, in this blog, we will discuss whether telemedicine apps are viable for rural healthcare and, if yes, how it's benefiting the patients. So let’s begin.  

3 Key Challenges of Rural Healthcare And How Telemedicine Apps Solve Them

Challenge #1: Accessing Healthcare Services

For the 46 million Americans who live in rural regions, getting medical care is more complicated.  They don’t even have access to primary healthcare care services in their area. The reason behind this backwardness is the limited availability of healthcare facilities. Patients find it challenging to get timely medical care since many rural regions lack hospitals, clinics, and other medical services.

The Solution

Telemedicine applications have emerged as a solution to this challenge. Thanks to telemedicine app development, patients may communicate remotely with doctors and other healthcare providers through video conferencing or texting. Therefore, telemedicine apps are a viable choice for people in rural areas. They can connect with a doctor instantly in an emergency, saving their traveling expenses.

Challenge #2: Scarcity Of Medical Professionals

More than 50 million people, or 20% of the US population, reside in rural regions, while only 9% of doctors in the country work there.

The scarcity of medical professionals is one of the most significant reasons for the backwardness of the healthcare system in rural areas. And the graph is constantly increasing as many doctors and nurses hesitate to work in rural areas. All of them prefer working in urban areas because they will get more opportunities for career advancement and higher salaries. Consequently, patients in rural regions find it much more challenging to get high-quality healthcare services. 

The Solution

With telemedicine apps, doctors will enable remote monitoring of patients' health conditions. It also allows healthcare professionals to keep track of their progress without requiring frequent in-person visits. 

Furthermore, patients have access to specialists who might be away. For instance, a patient who lives in a rural area may use video conferencing to consult with a cardiologist,  neurologist, or any other specialist on time and anywhere.

Consequently, doctors may see more patients in less time, easing some of the pressure caused by the shortage of trained medical workers.

Challenge #3: High Cost Of Healthcare Services

The high cost of healthcare services is another significant global challenge, especially for rural area citizens. Healthcare is becoming more expensive due to inflation in many nations, making it challenging for people to get the treatment they require. According to data, healthcare expenses in the United States surpassed those of other industrialized countries. These expenses also cover the cost of maintaining these systems.

These costs amounted to $1,055 per individual in 2021. Many communities cannot afford expensive medical treatments or procedures, leading to untreated illnesses and chronic conditions.

The Solution

Fortunately, telemedicine apps are a top-notch solution in this high-inflation era. By using smartphones or other mobile devices, people may communicate with healthcare doctors remotely thanks to these applications. 

However, the advantages continue beyond here. Compared to traditional healthcare services, telemedicine apps are significantly more affordable. Many Telemedicine App Development Companies offer low-cost or even free consultations for new users,  such as Medesk and Carepatron are perfect examples of these. This implies that people can get treatment and guidance from doctors without going to a clinic or hospital.

Are Telemedicine Apps A Viable Choice For Rural Healthcare?

But still, the question is whether telemedicine apps are viable for rural healthcare.  Well, the answer is yes. Telemedicine apps can be a viable option for rural healthcare as they provide several benefits, such as offering distant medical treatment, lessening the strain on healthcare professionals, and delivering affordable medical care.

However, some drawbacks to rural healthcare may reduce the precision of a diagnosis.

First, Health and fitness applications (13.15%) have the lowest uptake rate in rural regions. There are many reasons behind this under development, such as education and resources being limited compared to urban areas; language is another significant barrier as many applications are primarily available in English or other widely spoken languages, which makes it difficult for individuals who are not fluent in these languages to use them effectively.

Moreover, the lack of widespread having limited access to high-speed Internet. Only 65% of homes on tribal territory in rural areas have access to internet services. Patients’ capacity to participate in video consultations, provide health information, and monitor their health at home depends on broadband availability.

However, programs like the FCC's Rural Health Care Program, which funds broadband access in rural areas, are progressively addressing this hurdle. The usefulness of telemedicine applications as a solution becomes increasingly clear as remote areas' internet availability increases.

There are several restrictions, though, including the absence of a physical examination and restricted access to medical supplies. 

However, telemedicine apps are still viable for general care and emergency care. Therefore, telemedicine apps are a viable choice for regular medical treatment and complete medical care for rural residents. 

Key Takeaways

Looking for a trustworthy partner to help you develop a cutting-edge telemedicine app? Consult the professionals at Consagous. We are an award-winning telemedicine app development company in the USA with extensive healthcare industry knowledge.

Our telemedicine app developers work with you to create an app to beat the competition and attract more patients to your door.

Contact us at Consagous.co to build a reliable application per your requirement. Our high-quality mobile app development solutions turn your vision into reality.