3 Ways COVID-19 Has Changed Doctor-Patient Discourse

The COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of our daily lives, and some of these changes are here to stay even after the pandemic is brought under control.

One of the biggest impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the healthcare sector is changing the way doctors and patients communicate. With the social distancing requirements, it was difficult for patients to go for their regular doctor appointments. However, some innovative methods were introduced to facilitate patient-doctor communication.

Keep reading this blog to learn more about how COVID-19 has changed the way doctors and patients communicate.

1) Increased Popularity Of Telemedicine

One of the most effective and safe ways doctors and patients communicate during the COVID-19 pandemic is through telemedicine. With the help of telemedicine, doctors can deliver care and clinical treatments to patients without interacting with them physically.

Although telemedicine helps maintain social distancing, it also saves time, and money patients have to spend on coming to the hospital or the clinic and waiting for the doctor to attend to them.

2) Increase In The Use Of Health Apps

Healthcare apps have been around for quite some time; however, it wasn’t until the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic that they became popular. The pandemic also resulted in the introduction of some very high-quality and dependable apps.

These applications allowed patients to consult real doctors regarding their health issues in just a few clicks. This provides greater convenience to people as they don’t have to wait for days or months to get a doctor’s appointment.

3) Investing In Healthcare Devices

Blood pressure monitors, blood glucose monitors, and weight monitors are some of the most commonly used healthcare devices that can help patients monitor their vitals.

These devices allow patients to measure important health indicators without going to a doctor and can later send the readings to their physician for a detailed analysis and diagnosis. This has helped the patients become more proactive in tracking their health, communicating to their physician when they think they need help, and playing an active role in shared decision-making.

Get In Touch With IHBR Center To Achieve Effective Patient-Physician Communication

If you’re looking for ways to work on improving doctor-patient interactions, reach out to IHBR. The IHBR Center helps patients and doctors communicate effectively with the help of our online medical books related to communication skills in clinical practice and doctors’ training.

Contact us now to learn more about risk communication during COVID-19.