It’s what you might call a “no-brainer”–and that’s not a medical term–to see how high-speed internet can help improve health care. Information from Speed Matters.org, spelled it out for us thusly.
The potential for using high speed Internet technology to help expand access and improve the quality of health care in the United States is enormous. The use of advanced communications technology to transmit medical data and imaging in real-time, while linking patients to providers for direct consultation, can transcend geographic barriers to allow people to receive the medical care they need when and where it’s needed.
Especially in the face of rising medical costs and increasing gaps in insurance coverage, the cost-cutting efficiencies of telemedicine-–the delivery of quality health-related services and information using telecommunications technologies–are more valuable than ever. Universal high speed Internet access would help bring the prospect of affordable and quality health care for all Americans closer to reality.
Some of the benefits include:
• Real-time transmission of medical imagery–enabling the interpretation of MRI, ultrasound, X-rays, and other diagnostic procedures from afar.
• A reduction in the number of strenuous patient transfers, like from a nursing home to a doctor’s office, or for expectant mothers seeking prenatal care from a distant hospital. Remote monitoring and online consultations only possible through a high speed Internet connection can close the distance.
• A study from the University of Texas Medical Branch estimates that the U.S. health care system can save $4.28 billion from the elimination of patient transfers alone. This doesn’t even include potential savings from remote monitoring or interpretative services.
• Physicians can connect with distant specialists for real-time guidance in emergency situations—like during long ambulance rides when seconds count, or during a stroke or heart attack.
Tags: High Speed Internet, Real-Time