By Amy Koroba

The Rise of Telemedicine

Digital care, otherwise known as telemedicine, is the use of electronic communications and information technologies to provide clinical services when participants are at different locations (Telemedicine, 2006). 

When hearing this word, one might imagine video calls with the doctor or an online diagnosis questionnaire. However, its history dates back to the 19th century. In 1879, an article in a journal mentioned telephone usage as a way to reduce patient visits to the doctor (Nesbitt, 2012). The word “telemedicine” has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially with the rise of COVID-19. The spread of the virus and its consequent lockdown increased demand for online consultation (Shaver, 2022). 

Pre- and Post-Operative Care: What You Can Expect in Digital Care

Telemedicine is a general term, and there are applications regarding its use. Here are some of its most common uses.

  1. Pre-Operative: Consultations and Diagnoses

Online calls have allowed patients to reach doctors at any time from any location. It reduces trips to the hospital, waiting time and can reduce the number of work or school days missed. Online diagnoses have also been found to be just as accurate as in-person ones (Asiri et al., 2018). Not only that, but patients abroad can more easily receive healthcare in their native language through telemedicine. Instead of having to look for doctors in their destination, patients can hop on a call with their family doctor and receive reliable care.

  1. Pre-Operative: Education

Telemedicine can help patients prepare for an operation. For instance, a study showed that women who received a preoperative telehealth call before their urogynecological surgery were more prepared than those who received regular counselling. The group was associated with a greater understanding of surgical alternatives and complications (Halder et al., 2021). Although this may not change surgical outcomes, it can increase patient awareness and ensure they recognise the procedures they will receive. 

  1. Pre- and Post-Operative: Monitoring

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is another common form of telemedicine. It can allow doctors to access and manage their patients’ conditions in real time without constantly checking. Not only that, it gives patients an understanding of their condition, helping them manage their illness even without a doctor. Some common RPM devices include glucometers and pulse oximeters.

Does It Really Make a Difference?

Telemedicine may help patients receive better quality care, but does it really change the outcome of their medical journey? The short answer is yes. For example, in diabetes management, telehealth platforms have been shown to increase patient engagement and improve HbA1c levels, which is a measure of a person’s average blood sugar (Ezeamii, 2024). Telemedicine can provide the same quality of healthcare, if not better, while minimising costs, travel and maximising efficiency. 

Not only does telemedicine improve patient outcomes, but it can also improve patient access to medical services. It allows doctors and recipients to overcome geographical barriers (Ezeamii, 2024).

Digital Safety: Maintaining Privacy of Your Data

Telemedicine, despite being a useful tool in healthcare, is not a perfect system. Anything online can be vulnerable to data leakage and privacy concerns if not dealt with properly. This is why learning to use telemedicine appropriately is necessary when starting your digital healthcare journey. Here are a few things to consider.

First of all, understand the safety protocols and guidelines a local organisation or the government uses when receiving digital care. For instance, Japan has a list of laws and regulations on telemedicine. Some include the types of telemedicine allowed, required licensing, rules concerning patients’ medical records and patient consent (Suzuki et al., 2022). 

Personal measures can also be effective, such as using strong passcodes, personal devices, private rooms and authentication. Although this blog will not go into the ways to improve personal security, organisations such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provide telehealth privacy and security tips for patients, similar to those listed above. 

At Pyramedicine, telemedicine is integrated into every stage of the patient journey to improve safety, continuity, and surgical outcomes. From initial virtual consultations and second opinions to pre-operative education and post-operative follow-up, our digital care pathway ensures patients remain supported before, during, and after travelling to Egypt for treatment. We coordinate securely with local and international clinicians, provide multilingual consultations, and use remote monitoring where appropriate to track recovery and address concerns early. By combining high-quality in-person surgical care with structured telemedicine follow-up, Pyramedicine reduces unnecessary travel, enhances patient confidence, and maintains long-term continuity of care across borders.

References

  1. Asiri, A., AlBishi, S., AlMadani, W., ElMetwally, A., & Househ, M. (2018). The Use of Telemedicine in Surgical Care: a Systematic Review. Acta Informatica Medica, 26(3), 201–206. https://doi.org/10.5455/aim.2018.26.201-206
  2. Ezeamii, V. (2024). Revolutionising healthcare: How Telemedicine Is Improving Patient Outcomes and Expanding Access to Care. Cureus, 16(7). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.63881
  3. Halder, G. E., White, A. B., Brown, H. W., Caldwell, L., Wright, M. L., Giles, D. L., Heisler, C. A., Bilagi, D., & Rogers, R. G. (2021). A telehealth intervention to increase patient preparedness for surgery: a randomised trial. International Urogynecology Journal, 33(1), 85–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-021-04831-w
  4. Nesbitt, T. S. (2012). The Evolution of Telehealth: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going? In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207141/
  5. Shaver, J. (2022). The State of Telehealth Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, 49(4), 517–530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2022.04.002
  6. Suzuki, K., Ohno, N., & Tsunematsu. (2022). TELEMEDICINE: A GLOBAL APPROACH TO TRENDS AND PRACTICES. IBA Healthcare and Life Sciences Law Committee . https://www.ibanet.org/document?id=Healthcare-Telemedicine-Survey-Japan
  7. Telemedicine, Telehealth, and Health Information Technology: An ATA Issue Paper. The American Telemedicine Association Patient Care Health Provider. (2006). https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/digital-health-documents/global-observatory-on-digital-health/usa_support_tele.pdf?sfvrsn=1c0a523b_3