COVID-19 accelerated the progress in the digital transformation processes in the health sector, the progress that was expected in 3 years occurred in 3 months.
According to the third edition of the Aegon Health and Lifestyle study, 7 out of 10 telemedicine users say it has been very helpful.
Thanks to COVID-19, all sectors have been forced to accelerate their digitization and the health sector could not be left behind. As health centers pour most of their resources into containing the pandemic, the sector has had to look for alternatives to stop treating all other pathologies and has found its great ally in telemedicine.
Telemedicine is nothing new, although it is facing a very slow incorporation into the sector: COVID-19 has focused on the need to bet on it and its implementation has been accelerated. The progress that was expected in 3 years happened in 3 months.
“These advances provide the opportunity to manage hospitals, health centers and patients more effectively, as well as to investigate new diseases, such as COVID-19, to provide early detection and more specific care, while minimizing damage. In the patient and contagions “, differ from ASHO, a leading company in hospital advice and clinical coding in Spain.
technology played a key role in managing the health crisis. Virtual consultations, by phone, online results or remote patient tracking have become a reality and have all the numbers that must remain with the crisis, because they have brought many benefits to the sector and have proven to be effective, improving management, reducing lists and waiting times, avoiding unnecessary travel and reducing bureaucracy.
However, experts warn that while it is effective in many cases, telematic medicine is not good for everyone and argue that they put order in this clinical practice, set boundaries, and provide more resources for infrastructure and training of professionals in digital skills.
Use of telemedicine during the pandemic
In the third edition of Aegon Health and Lifestyle Study, which focuses on the analysis of the health status, lifestyle, habits and behaviors related to the health of Spaniards, it can be seen that one in three respondents claims to have used telemedicine during the pandemic. More 7 out of 10 telemedicine users say it was very helpful. Telematic medicine has paved the way for leaving behind lengthy procedures that make the patient feel uncomfortable and delay the doctor. It was found that many of the operations that were performed were not necessary and that the use of complementary telematics means greater efficiency in the sector.
In fact, right Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC), Family physicians, during the pandemic, performed an average of 32 medical documents through telemedicine and reduced the number of patients who were treated personally to only a dozen. In this context, ASHO shows that “This process has made it easier for patients who really needed face-to-face care to be treated faster and with more medical care, since other pathologies have not ceased to exist in COVID-19 times.”.
Technological advances have been essential for the development and good management of the pandemic. In particular, telematics medicine has benefited the entire sector, patients, healthcare professionals and managers. It is a long process, with many challenges and challenges in which much remains to be done for the digital transformation to be fully implemented in the health sector. Technological advances, together with the collaboration of society and the pandemic, have proved to be the key to giving life. the golden age of digital health.
About ASHO
ASHO, as a leading healthcare coding company, currently manages over 85 projects throughout Spain and codifies approximately 600,000 records per year. With a market share of 47%, the company specializes in providing value-added services in hospital information systems that facilitate the management and work of clinical professionals. Since its inception 26 years ago, it has coded more than 8 million records, concentrating 2.5 million in the last five years.
