Investigating the Use of Telemedicine during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-2019 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the global population, claiming the lives of more than 3.7 million worldwide. The biggest difference between COVID-19 and other common infectious diseases such as the flu, MERS, and SARS is that COVID-19 can be deadly even in young people without a chronic disease. The only preventing measure for COVID-19 is to observe social distancing and reduce the number of visits to hospitals and medical centers. Telemedicine technology in medical science is a useful tool to achieve this goal. Remote counseling and video conference via mobile phones are safe and effective methods to assess suspected COVID-19 cases and guide patients in diagnosis and treatment to minimize the risk of disease transmission. Although telemedicine was effectively used before the COVID-19 pandemic, its use was limited to situations when proper facilities and infrastructure were unavailable. However, with the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, the prevalence of online medical services is increasing rapidly. Remote medical solutions can monitor and treat patients in emergency situations without physical presence in the hospital. In general, the benefits of using telemedicine services can be divided into two groups: 1) providing assistance in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients suspected with COVID-19 and 2) providing assistance to non-COVID-19 patients who need regular visits and follow-ups, like diabetic patients.