Telemedicine for Parkinson's Disease Care

Telemedicine is defined as a means of telecommunication to help treat and diagnose patients. Within recent years, telemedicine has become increasingly popular. It was just around fifty years ago that some hospitals began to work on various cases of trying out this method of treatment delivery. With the ever-evolving technology of today's growing world, using this form of treatment for those with Parkinson's can be more effective than ever.

While it is never accurate to presume the condition of someone with PD, those facing various stages and ailments related to Parkinson's could benefit from the rise in technology and other benefits telemedicine has to offer. Continued research and funding is necessary for the management and research into Parkinson's disease.

Given the fact that some earlier stages and oftentimes later stages can have physical signs, at home telemedicine communication could prove efficient and accurate in many cases around the globe. Since a large number of Parkinson's patients receive disability and various benefits for their chronic illness, telemedicine and reimbursements are another highly debated topic in the healthcare universe.

Technology and Treating Parkinson's With Better Steps Forward

With recent findings in the world of Parkinson's disease, there are respective programs that have been able to assist those searching for new and updated information. A study that appeared in the journal of Neurology has studied the effects of quality care and telemedicine. This can be viewed as a positive step forward for those who are unable to access a neurologist or a health professional in an outside setting. They have been shown to be effective in numerous cases, oftentimes even just as effective as in-person care for several different cases and stages.

These benefits could be recognized even more if different changes are made to Medicare policy, according to researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Patients that lack access to facilities and have issues getting around could very well find these changes and future advancements as essential to their quality of life. Those in rural areas who live further away from medical access are also ones who could benefit from telemedicine in the management of Parkinson's disease. Even if one has little issue getting around and can drive in whatever stage of PD, it can be exhausting to drive and travel numerous miles just for an appointment.

With advancements in telemedicine, this could be vital for those who are facing the daily issue of managing their care from outside the home and inside, too. According to recent research, around 40 percent of individuals who are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease will not seek out a neurologist shortly after being diagnosed with PD. The sooner that someone is diagnosed, the better the prognosis for management and treatment can be. With this latest rise in technology, finding which types of communication work best for each individual is more accessible than in the past.

The ability to have healthcare when needed at the tip of a finger could be the missing piece many Parkinson's patients are looking after. The world of medicine is vast, but the ability to extend a healthcare professional setting into the patients' home could make all the difference to those who are facing issues accessing care and mustering up the strength for outside of the home activities.

Growing Technology

As the universe of technology continues to grow, as do the options for those who are unable to seek assistance outside of their home. Patients that are seeking Parkinson's disease information are able to go onto various websites, forums, management chats with online health professionals, and forms of telemedicine. In addition to the technology that can help those with the diagnosis of Parkinson's, technology, and the internet has allowed others with PD to gather from across the globe in an online setting.

An emotional support system can be viewed as beneficial in not just managing Parkinson's disease symptoms, but can be a source of comfort. Even the ability to watch television shows on demand, listen to favorite music and related podcasts on Parkinson's, audiobooks, and browsing information can be a source of ease for those who are feeling as if they have lost some of their hobbies due to Parkinson's. With these footsteps are in the right direction, telemedicine has more exposure than ever before.

Managing Symptoms at Home

With the latest treatment in telemedicine, managing treatments and symptoms at home can be done with more ease than in previous years. The benefits of telemedicine are not only clear in recent reports, but are encouraged for continued studies by various organization. The ability to manage and discuss symptoms at home is paramount in the evolution of Parkinson's disease and the management of it. With the telemedicine field developing faster than before, continuous research of how to better manage symptoms at home is a topic that many Parkinson's patients are pleased over.

Although strides are continuously being made, there are still countless ways that those with PD can continue to be assisted, with resources expanding throughout the years. The use of telemedicine and the ability to find more convenient care is one step in the right direction. Mobile phone health apps are just one way that telemedicine is spreading out into the health world, giving those with Parkinson's the ability to have access at the touch of their mobile phones. Many options exist for those who desire shopping, food access, banking, and communication, yet virtual healthcare and telemedicine is still making its way to the public eye within recent years.

A Short Look At The Future of Parkinson's and Treatment

From telemedicine that involves various software to video conferences regarding medical health assessments, there are rising options for those who are after better information and management at home. Discussing the possibility of telemedicine with a healthcare provider can be beneficial to PD patients that are looking for alternative methods to outside management appointments and healthcare options. Better quality patient care and more specialists are viewed as a necessity by many seeking the advancement of telemedicine among Parkinson's disease patients and other chronic health patients.

Reductions in patient costs and better care are aspects that continue to play a key role in Parkinson's disease treatment. Development of these telemedicine options can have downsides such as reduced care cohesiveness in some individual forms. If a patient with PD feels more comfortable with an in-person appointment, resources to manage this should be considered for each patient's own individualized preference towards better treatment and management options. Although numerous aspects of PD diagnosis still remain a mystery, better access can lead to increased care and comfort overall.

Current legislation has been presented in Congress to assist and help expand the reimbursement of telemedicine. With new and innovative strides in the area of telemedicine, virtual house calls could save patients hundreds of miles from where they would normally travel, in addition to saving those with Parkinson's time outside of the home. Stressful environments can play a factor in healing and management, but telemedicine is just one way that changes are being made within the field. In combination with at home care in certain scenarios and required medical visits when needed, telemedicine could very possibly make all the difference for an individual managing Parkinson's and the symptoms of any stage.