Telemedicine In Chiropractic Care

Technology is changing so many aspects of our lives and day by day, we see the further
integrating of technology into society. Technology is also changing the operations of so
many professional sectors, with all sorts of different processes and communications
being rooted in technological applications where they were once manually conducted.
One of these professional sectors where technology is revolutionizing operations in is
medicine.

Each and every day, we see a new technological development come about that
transforms medicine as we know it. A more recent development in the technological
applications of medicine is the concept of telemedicine. This process involves the use of
technology in interfacing between physicians and patients regarding a patient’s health
outcomes, diagnostics, and other relevant information that can be discussed without the
patient actually being at the practice. This is usually conducted either over the phone or
via some sort of digital channel such as Skype, Google Hangout, or any other platform
that gives both parties the opportunity for visual representation.

In chiropractic care, professionals are catching on to the use of telemedicine in their
practice. While chiropractic professionals may not be able to perform adjustments or
spinal manipulations without the patient present in their office, they can usually get an
idea of what the patient is experiencing from communication about the patient’s
symptoms. If it is not a serious condition and the patient is experiencing some
discomfort, the chiropractor can use telemedicine to offer the patient at-home remedies,
exercises, and any other relevant information that can help the patient try to tackle the
problem from the comfort of their own home.

Telemedicine is not meant to replace the interpersonal element of chiropractic care and
if a patient is in a position where he or she needs an adjustment, it is recommended that
the patient visit the clinic and not put off treatment. It is also not meant to lighten the
load for chiropractors and to make their jobs easier. However, using this type of
technology can help patients establish confidence in themselves to treat their own
musculoskeletal problems, learn from chiropractic professionals, and overall, make
healthcare more accessible across the board.

Story Credit: https://www.chillicothegazette.com/story/news/local/2015/07/06/virtual-visits-new-technology-enters-doctors-office/29801241/