Thought Leadership in Action

Telemedicine has arrived. Telecommunications is connecting doctors to patients in a whole new way. The latest smartphones are making “visiting” the doctor from remote locations possible all over the world. Today’s smartphone are equipped with sensors that can be used as blood pressure monitors and microscope attachments that can detect ear infections.

Telemedicine includes a growing variety of applications and services using two-way video, email, smartphones, wireless tools and other forms of telecommunications technology. And while most examinations still require face-to-face interactions, advances in technology means the gap is closing.

These methods of telecommunications are now accessible to most people globally. According to Statista, by 2017, there will be an estimated 2.6 billion smartphone users in the world. Google and Facebook have announced plans to bring internet access to remote regions of the world via satellites and drones. The world is more connected than ever before and accessibility to critical communications is no longer limited to people living in bustling cities with plenty of ready money.

Some developing countries are legally requiring telecom companies to build networks in rural areas, regardless of how many people can pay for a contract.

As cellphones, smartphones and computers connect people with healthcare professionals in most parts of the world, the use of mobile and internet platforms in healthcare will rise exponentially. Organizations that innovate and develop new tools that leverage technology to swiftly connect people to medical care are saving lives. This is especially true for populations in under-served areas around the world.

Ebix’s Ask a Doctor service gives quick and easy access to doctors, anytime, anywhere! A global network of more than 33,000 physicians from more than 50 specialties is on hand to answer questions. Users can connect using mobile devices, tablets and PCs, and answers are secure and confidential. Learn more about Ask a Doctor.