Healthcare in the United States and abroad is an industry that is transforming. The medical industry is modernizing and becoming technologically advanced. The creation of this modernization of the medical industry is telemedicine. This is the use of video conferencing to connect physicians with patients who are not physically in the doctor's office. Telemedicine is beneficial to the healthcare industry for the following reasons: its ability to connect physicians and patients around the United States and the world, its cost-effectiveness, and the fact that it is created to serve as a compliment, not a replacement to current healthcare practices.

Global connectedness is a pertinent issue in medicine today. Physicians worldwide are realizing its importance in treating patients with various ailments and patients in general, because of the shortage of physicians. According to a recent study, "the United States faces a potential physician shortage of as many as 52,000 (Frist, "Policy Recommendations in telemedicine)." This shortage is alarming and the U.S. healthcare industry is taking steps to mitigate this problem. The most promising solution is telemedicine. Through multiple studies, it has been proven that telemedicine creates a stronger ease of communication between patients and physicians worldwide.

 Patients who suffer from rare diseases and ailments, are now able to speak to specialists in other parts of the United States, and even the world. Furthermore, the cost of speaking to these physicians is far more affordable than an in person visit. This technology is not designed to eliminate in person doctor's visits, but rather create an avenue for patients to receive certain types of medical care that they previously would simply not have access to. With the implementation of telemedicine, scientists argue, the scope of patients who receive healthcare would broaden exponentially and propel the United States forward in the healthcare industry. 

Telemedicine is a growing industry and "According to a report by BCC Research, the global telemedicine market reached $11.6 billion in 2011, and is expected to triple to $27.3 billion (Andrews, "Global Telemedicine)." This substantial growth has allowed physicians and patients to connect more around the United States and in the world. Patients are now able to receive medical information from top-of-the-line medical experts from around the world. They are also now able to receive life saving information from a specialist. A mother from Santa Clara, California can video conference with a Multiple Sclerosis special in Copenhagen, Denmark. The global aspect of telemedicine is unmatched and its uncanny ability to save hundreds of thousands of lives is incredibly special.

 The topic of telemedicine and its incorporation into the healthcare system is viewed as beneficial by some individuals and injurious by others. Telemedicine is the use of video conferencing to connect patients with their physicians while they are not in the doctor's office. This is a relatively new idea, which utilizes technology and integrates it into the healthcare system. Non-supporters of telemedicine claim that it will decrease the quality of medical care, while increasing our reliance on technology.

 Supporters claim that this new idea will transform the healthcare industry for the better, by creating a cost-effective and high quality compliment to traditional healthcare. Countless non-supporters state that telemedicine should not be an alternative to healthcare; well the reality is, that telemedicine has not been created as an alternative to in person doctor's visits, but rather a compliment.

Proponents of this new development in the medical industry advocate these three components of telemedicine: its ability to connect physicians and patients around the world, its cost-effectiveness, and the fact that it is created as a compliment, not a replacement to current healthcare practices. Through multiple studies, it has been proven that telemedicine creates a stronger ease of communication between patients and physicians worldwide. Patients who suffer for rare diseases and ailments, are now able to speak to specialists in other parts of the United States, and even the world. 

Furthermore, the cost of speaking to these physicians is far more affordable than an in person visit. This technology is not designed to eliminate in person doctor's visits, but rather create an avenue for patients to receive certain types of medical care that they previously would simply not have access to. With the implementation of telemedicine, scientists argue, the scope of patients who receive healthcare would broaden exponentially and propel the United States forward in the healthcare industry. 

Medical attention will not require a wait because "live video consultations with doctors will be available 24 hours a day, who can offer advice, prescribe medicine, and suggest follow-up care (Agus 91)." These video conferences can occur at anytime and can provide life saving care and information. Before this technology, patients had to wait exceedingly long times to receive medical care. With telemedicine, the wait time is eliminated and the possibility to speak with any physician who has access to the internet around the world becomes a certainty. 

The real goal of medical care is to provide the best care in an efficient manner. Healthcare would simply not be effective if doctors were not aware of their field. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of millions of diseases in the world and specialists for these diseases are few and far between. This is where telemedicine comes in and transforms the medical world and connects the globe. A sick patient who is dying of a rare disease can now be put in contact with a physician who specializes in that disease. A life can be saved with the incorporation of this medical treatment. Not only one life, but thousands, even hundreds of thousands. 

In the United States healthcare can be extraordinarily expensive. Thousands of people do not see their doctors because they simply cannot afford to. Thousands of lives go unsaved, because people are afraid of accumulating hospital debt. In a nation as great as the United States, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, everyone who needs medical care should be able to afford it. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. The solution to unaffordable healthcare is telemedicine. 

Certain Individuals believe that with the incorporation of telemedicine, face to face consultations and personal relationships with doctors will become extinct. This is not true as Robert Frist, a leading neurologist and Washington University states because, "telehealth is gaining ground as an alternative to urgent care or the emergency department for more minor concerns like ear infections and colds," or if a patient is traveling and needs a consultation with their physician.  Video conferences are discussed as only being used to ask a doctor about a common cold, or minor ailment that does not require an in person inspection. Robert Frist discusses the usefulness and convenience to someone who is traveling and cannot physically be in the doctor's office. 

The last time I went to the doctor's office was August, 2015. Everything was going smoothly until my doctor attempted to pull out my chart on his ipad, a chart that was no longer on paper, but on an online database. The EMR, Electronic Medical Records, were not accessible because the system was down. My doctor was baffled because all of my prior testing, shots that I had taken, and glucose measurements were missing. He essentially had to treat me as though he had not ever met me before. 

I was shocked about what had transpired and asked him if he really liked being forced to use his ipad. He told me that on most days, when it works technology and EMR's are a blessing, but the days that he system is down are the days that he cannot stand working through an online database. Soon after I read an article in Fortune Magazine entitled "The Doctor Will See You Now, written by Dr. David B. Agus." Today, well over 80% of medical data is kept on an Electronic Database. The article discussed the benefits and drawbacks of technology in healthcare, as well as the advantages and the disadvantages of the emergence of telemedicine in society.

The article discusses the resistance against the implementation of telemedicine by stating that "there are multiple barriers to the widespread uptake of telemedicine, but the most prohibitive are regulatory policies at the state level." Dr. Frist then discusses why healthcare is so resistant to telemedicine and highlights that this is because some states are afraid that virtual care will not meet the same standards as in person care. Frist does his best to convey to the reader that telemedicine, will be required to meet precisely the same standards as an in person doctor's visit. 

The most critical aspect of the incorporation of telemedicine is that it is intended to compliment current medical practices, not to replace them. Non-supporters of telemedicine claim that because it is less expensive, the quality of care will deteriorate. This not true. The cost-effectiveness of telemedicine is simply so people who have previously never been to the doctor's office, because it is too expensive, will now be able to go. These people will finally have access to the healthcare and medical attention that they need. 

The article discussed that patients were responding in a positive way to the wristbands that monitored their vitals, sleeping patterns, and their EKG. The use of telemedicine as a tool to prevent illnesses was also brought up. The author, B.K. Wiederhold, emphasized the fact that the most useful ways to utilize the technology in modern medicine is to use it for prevention. Countless studies were shown where illnesses and diseases were diagnosed by doctor's much sooner because of the technology, even something as simple as the wristband which has to a "140 % increase the the detection of diseases in the human body (Weiderhold, "Modern Medicine)." This technology associated with telemedicine, which is cheaper than traditional healthcare, has been proven to be more effective in detecting diseases that traditional care. However, researching and advocates of telemedicine are not claiming to want to replace traditional healthcare practices, but rather add on to it using new tools such as the wristband and other technology. 

Another crucial point is one of universal healthcare and the debate over it (which is extremely passionate at times), and how through telemedicine virtually every person worldwide can have access to telemedicine. It is also more affordable than a face to face consult. The technological advancements do not stop at wristbands, with some new technologies, being games that truly do work in improving special relations and memory, especially in the elderly.

Countless non-supporters state that telemedicine should not be an alternative to healthcare; well the reality is, that telemedicine has not been created as an alternative to in person doctor's visits, but rather a compliment. Next, the inaccuracy of a telemedicine diagnosis is addressed, and light is shined down on the inability of physicians to properly diagnose patients over a video conference. Doctors need to see patients in person to treat certain conditions, and become well acquainted with the patient so they can accurately see what is wrong and go about the proper way of treating the ailment. 

Finally, the topic of lowered quality of care administered to telemedicine patients is discussed. Robert Gordon states to the readers that "physicians are not able to form connections with patients which leads to a lower quality of medical treatment and care (Gordon 15) ". According to Gordon, this lowered quality of care for patients will lead to the demise of healthcare. In a different article by Rose Hoban, a researcher at the University of North Carolina, the possibility of tele-medicine and how it is viewed by everyone is addressed. The government supports the idea, but doctors are opposed. They believe that if a patient is not treated in person, it will make it more difficult to diagnose what is wrong with the patient and therefore lead to more complaints, and even lawsuits. The article discusses how telemedicine is becoming more and more prevalent, especially in North Carolina. The easiness and convenience of FaceTime consults with doctors is contagious and many practices are doing this. This practice, however, is not seen as great for everyone, especially the doctors. Reimbursement is the largest and most prevalent issue, because there is no parity law for time spent during a telemedicine visit.

While all of this is true, it is not taken to heart because telemedicine is simply another tool that physicians have to treat patients. The goal is not to destroy what has worked in the medical industry thus far, but rather to add on to it. Also, telemedicine is much better than not receiving any medical care at all. According to Forbes magazine, "12% of Americans cannot afford any sort of medical treatment (Lemmons 24)." The better alternative is to receive virtual healthcare which virtually (no pun intended) everyone, even the most impoverished can afford. 

Telemedicine is beneficial to the healthcare industry for the following reasons: its ability to connect physicians and patients around the United States and the world, its cost-effectiveness, and the fact that it is created to serve as a compliment, not a replacement to current healthcare practices. With the incorporation of telemedicine into the healthcare industry in the United States, our great country will be propelled forward in to a new age of enlightenment in healthcare reform. 

