The rise of new technology has drove hospitals especially in United States to adapt new technology in facilitating healthcare services, and one of these tools is telemedicine or simply telehealth, which has made it possible for the rural patients to get treatment easily. Besides, telehealth can educate students and physicians with ethical consultation, and it gives a sign of satisfaction to both the patients and providers, although on the issues of ethical consideration, more information is needed for understanding. Physicians must allow the patient to make their decision about using the telemedicine, and once they accept, their information should be kept private and confidential.
Even though telemedicine might depersonalize and reduce the trust between patients and healthcare provider, nurses need to maintain that relation by sacrificing their time to be with the patient while using the technology, because not all patient will trust the physician on the screen. All the patients need is a face-to-face interaction, and it should be provided. There are some factors that depict a rift between rural and urban residence. For instance, shortcomings among rural Americans such as illiteracy, economic challenges, social and cultural differences make it hard to for them to benefit from healthcare services, but telemedicine will help to curb this challenge by its application in clinics and small rural hospitals to enable patient get an access to specialists.
However, it is not possible to apply telemedicine in rural areas due to economic shortages, and therefore, clinicians need financial boost to have this technology in rural areas. Telemedicine is still developing, and so far, a lot of positive comments have been associated with its application. However, clinicians must maintain their ethical consideration with their patients even when using this technology, as professional-patient relationship is paramount for the wellbeing of the patient.
References
Nelson, W. A. (2010). Healthcare Management Ethics: The Ethics of Telemedicine. Unique Nature of Virtual Encounters Calls for Special Sensitivities.
