| Healthcare is undoubtedly one of the United | | | | States has become outdated. With the rapidly |
| States' biggest challenges today. Having been | | | | expanding array of technology that is available to |
| declared "broken" by experts over ten years ago, | | | | the people of the United States, it is no wonder |
| the system has still not shown any | | | | why the way research is done has changed; and |
| improvements. Supposed "fixes" promised by | | | | the ways in which people communicate has also |
| managed care have not surfaced. Instead, health | | | | changed. So what about change in the healthcare |
| insurance premiums are rising, hassles for patients | | | | system? It is due time for physicians and other |
| and physicians continue, and more than 45 million | | | | healthcare providers to evolve with the times and |
| Americans are uninsured. | | | | incorporate telehealth services, such as online |
| If the challenges with healthcare that the United | | | | medical consultations and online prescriptions, into |
| States faces are not met swiftly and wisely, the | | | | their practices. |
| current problems will worsen and new challenges | | | | Datamonitor has predicted that the global |
| will arise. Even considering that new technology, | | | | telehealth market is expected to exceed $8 billion |
| such as online medical consultations, will increase | | | | by the year 2012. Telemedicine (often used |
| efficiency, the cost of new tests and treatments | | | | synonymously with telehealth) is the use of |
| are projected to outweigh the savings. As | | | | medical information being exchanged from one to |
| physicians and online doctors get better at | | | | another via electronic communication, whether it is |
| treating ailments and illnesses, they will in turn | | | | the internet or phone. This exchanged medical |
| lengthen patients' lives, thereby increasing the | | | | information in the form of online doctor |
| number of people requiring medical care. | | | | consultations and printable doctors' excuses online |
| Additionally, as costs rise, many employers will not | | | | in turn is used to improve the patient's health or |
| be able to handle providing healthcare benefits to | | | | direct them in the right path. |
| their employees. This is just one contributing | | | | Commonly referred to as online medical |
| factor to the growing number of uninsured | | | | consultation services, telemedicine is not different |
| citizens. | | | | from the actual practice of medicine; it is just the |
| Is Healthcare Reform in Our Near Future? | | | | application of the standard, accepted practice of |
| President Obama has plans in motion to ensure | | | | medicine, to electronic communication, thus |
| each and every American has access to high | | | | making it more widely accessible and easier to |
| quality health care, deeming it "one of the most | | | | obtain by the general public. With technology at |
| important challenges of our time." He stated that | | | | everyone's fingertips, it is no wonder that a |
| the number of uninsured Americans is growing, | | | | rapidly increasing number of people are turning to |
| premiums are skyrocketing, and an increasing | | | | the internet for online doctor consultations and |
| number of people are being denied coverage | | | | printable doctors' excuses. To date, approximately |
| every day. In addition, President Obama believes | | | | 36 million Americans have already been treated |
| that an improved healthcare system - including | | | | by telemedicine through online doctor consultations |
| one that supports the use of telemedicine and | | | | and/or prescriptions. A survey showed that over |
| online doctor consultations - is also essential to | | | | 70% of patients indicate that they are willing to |
| rebuilding the U.S. economy, in that an improved | | | | try online doctor consultations and online |
| system will benefit people and businesses - not | | | | prescription services rather than going into an |
| just insurance and pharmaceutical companies. | | | | office when they have a minor illness. |
| According to Darrell M. West, Vice President, | | | | The American Medical Association (AMA) has |
| Governance Studies at Brookings Institution, "the | | | | reported that possibly 70% of all doctors visits |
| biggest obstacle to health care reform is fear of | | | | are for information or a consultation of sorts that |
| the unknown. Anytime you make fundamental | | | | could easily be handled over a phone. All of these |
| changes in the system, there is going to be | | | | visits cost medical providers and patients alike for |
| anxiety from doctors worried about | | | | the unnecessary trips. It has been estimated that |
| reimbursement levels, patients concerned over | | | | as much as $300 billion of health care costs are |
| access to care, insurers about market | | | | wasteful and unnecessary, thus resulting in higher |
| competition, and hospitals about cost structures. | | | | insurance costs for groups and individuals alike. |
| In this situation of complex proposals and | | | | Are These Goals Within United States' Reach? |
| unknowable consequences, it is easy to play to | | | | The three targeted goals when it comes to |
| people's fears and scare them into resisting | | | | improving the U.S. healthcare system according to |
| change. What President Obama has to do is | | | | President Obama are the following:o Reform the |
| persuade people that diving into the unknown | | | | healthcare system;o Promote scientific and |
| future is less risky than the current status quo. If | | | | technological advancements; ando Improve |
| he can overcome the fear hurdle, he will get | | | | preventative care |
| health care reform." | | | | With the rapid advancement of telemedicine, or |
| We Have Evolved...It's Time for Healthcare to | | | | online doctor consultation and online prescription |
| Evolve, Too | | | | services, the aforementioned goals are most |
| The way of approaching healthcare in the United | | | | definitely within our reach. |