Virtual Consultations: A Post COVID-19 Reality That Is Here to Stay

In 2019, only 11% of Americans used telehealth or virtual services to consult with their healthcare providers. However, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 led to a seismic change in the industry. 

As per a McKinsey report, 76% of the population is now open to using virtual consultations to seek medical advice. In this article, we’re going to discuss to what extent the pandemic has influenced how patients see virtual consultations.

How the Pandemic Has Brought Virtual Consultations Into the Spotlight

When the government announced a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) backed lockdown, millions of patients with various illnesses found themselves with no access to medical help as 70% of all in-office appointments were canceled. 

However, as video conferencing tools made one-on-one or group conversations accessible, patients and doctors alike adapted to the new reality.

This new reality has turned into a boon for healthcare providers as they have recorded a 50-175x increase in virtual consultations in the last year. 

In addition, 57% of medical professionals have begun to view telehealth services as a valid option compared to pre-COVID-19 times and 64% of them have become more comfortable with the use of digital communication tools (Source). 

The government has also been proactive in removing the regulatory hurdles that limited the scope of virtual medicare services. As a result, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved more than 80 new services so far.

Impact on the Medical Industry

Virtual consultations have been so effective that, according to the research cited above, up to 20% or $250 billion worth of Medicare, Medicaid, office, and home health expenditures could go virtual in the coming years. 

The dental industry has embraced the virtual consultations trend as many dentists have begun offering them to their patients. 

Dr. Jason Lemmon of Picacho Family Dental in Yuma, Arizona, offers virtual consultations that you can easily book online, on our website. To benefit from a virtual consultation, all you need to do is upload a closeup selfie of your smile along with any concerns you may be facing. 

Dr. Lemmon will do a thorough analysis of your situation and then connect with you to address all of your concerns and provide customized recommendations. 

To know more about how you can book a virtual consultation with Dr. Lemmon at Picacho Family Dental, call us at (928) 344-3177, email us at picachodental@gmail.com, or book online.