Telemedicine can be of great assistance to people with immunodeficiency disorders, which are conditions that disrupt your body’s ability to defend itself against bacteria. The most common forms of immunodeficiency disorders are HIV/AIDs and common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID). These disorders can be passed down through genetics or acquired later in life. A variety of treatments, such as antibiotics and medications, can help manage these diseases.
How can telemedicine help immunodeficiency? For HIV patients, a study conducted in Canada on telemedicine found that 85 percent of respondents (39 of 46) believed that telemedicine could improve access to and timeliness of care.
Telemedicine is the ideal health care choice for patients with immunodeficiency disorders because it improves access to care, provides specialists on your time, reduces the risk of germs, and secures information sharing.
Improves access to care
It can be taxing to make the trip to a doctor’s office every time you get sick, especially if you have an immunodeficiency disorder, which can cause frequent sickness. With telemedicine, you have access to care virtually anywhere because you can talk to the doctors and specialists via a video or phone call.
HIV, AIDS, and CVID each has unique symptoms that can be frequent or chronic, and may require visits to the doctor often. If you experience pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, ear infections, skin infections frequently, telemedicine can help you get treatment right away.
Provides specialists on your time
It is much easier to get sick when your immune system is weaker. If you suddenly contract an infection, specialists can help you treat it and talk about preventive efforts.
Secures information sharing
Telemedicine makes it easy to track your doctor visits. If you make routine visits to doctors, it can be helpful to have detailed records of when and why you saw them. All of your relevant visit and patient information is securely stored and accessible to you and your doctors. If you contract an illness, it can be helpful to know what those symptoms were and how a doctor addressed them for future prevention.
Reduces the risk of germs
Doctors’ office waiting rooms are often filled with germs from sick patients. When you have a weaker immune system, waiting rooms can be downright scary. With telemed, doctors can treat you from inside your home, eliminating unnecessary exposure to other illnesses. And, when you need the doctor but you’re too sick to leave the house, telemed brings the care to your room through the computer or phone.
A quarter of a million people in the U.S. live with these disorders. Telemedicine may be a useful and convenient way to help them stay as healthy as possible.