A sudden spread of the deadly COVID-19 (Coronavirus) that rooted from China has now spread to over 200 countries globally. In December 2019 early cases were linked to the livestock market in Wuhan which itself was a mysterious cause of concern for the entire world. The nature of this virus is found to be zoonotic which means it can be passed on from animals to humans. The pandemic quietly crept up in the Chinese province of Hubei. The onslaught of this invisible health care challenge has had a ripple effect through its spread to other countries. The first case of the Coronavirus occurred in America on February 26th, 2020 that has now led to over 80 million Americans in self-isolation. Telemedicine has become the primary solution for all seeking health care today.
The public call for a worldwide quarantine was the only rational way to contain the spread of the vicious virus. The ambiguity of this disease had wrapped itself in the guise of influenza, the common cold and pneumonia. People of all ages can be infected by the coronavirus. Elderly people and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus. The need for medical billing and coding for coronavirus patients may continue to increase. According to the latest coronavirus update as cited by Financial Times President Donald Trump has proclaimed a possible peak in fatalities from coronavirus cases.
The global lockdown of public schools, restaurants, barber shops and beauty salons has further aggravated stress and fear in millions of people. Thus, the need for digital connectivity has grown manifold. Grief-stricken patients are reaching out for support and diagnostic assistance from doctors through telecommunications. Personal hygiene care, such as washing your hands during this pandemic is integral to stop the spread of the virus. Green Sense Billing is your proud partner in digital health awareness for all those affected. Lack of knowledge about this pandemic can lead to stigmatization and a frightful approach in handling it. Online questionnaires by doctors for the differentiation of coronavirus symptoms from other common colds are helping fight the epidemic globally.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Symptoms and Vaccination
The most common symptoms of coronavirus are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may complain about aches, nasal congestion, a runny nose, a sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. In worst-case scenarios kidney failure and even death is reported. The onset of visible symptoms for coronavirus ranges from 1-14 days, most frequently around day five.. Primarily identified upper respiratory health infection cases make public health officials uneasy to comment on the length of research required for acute immunization for the coronavirus. Digital health is the main course of action to personalize medicines in this coronavirus outbreak. The trials for vaccines to counter and thwart the spread of coronavirus are still underway. This could take another year to fully research and roll out the final verdict on the type of vaccines that will wipe out the replication of this virus.
Steps to Grow Awareness Amongst Health Care Provides
The restrictions on public gatherings have had an impact on the daily lives of millions of people today. Most government and health care associations globally have traced back two –thirds of coronavirus cases to people who have returned from travel. The Diamond Princess Cruise ship incident in Japan has claimed several lives including 621 onboard passengers in the port Yokohama alone. This unprecedented threat to the lives of people all over the world has increased the need for health care workers to show their support through telehealth options. AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians) has created a remarkable resource for family physicians through COVID-19 Rapid Response Member Exchange; it serves to be an online forum for tracking virtual visits and discussion threads on the recent updates on coronavirus. Common sense hygiene practices of frequent hand washing, wearing masks, limiting contact with people, avoidance of mass gatherings in public places are all necessary to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The latest analysis by an immunologist backed by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine about the impact of coronavirus suggests 30% of patients in hospitals need intensive-care treatment.
Problems Faced by Health Care Providers during Coronavirus Threats
The World Health Organization (WHO) has affirmed the outbreak as an “international public health emergency”. The ominous news of the coronavirus outbreak has fostered a feeling of general servitude in the fragile minds of those affected. The notion of hibernation during this phase of the coronavirus has incredibly created vast awareness about self-care and a need to boost the immune system. There lies dual responsibility for doctors to protect themselves and their staff while providing quality care around the clock. The shortage of masks, hand sanitizers, and antibacterial liquids are multiplying. There is thus a higher need for manufacturers around the world to increase the production of these lifesaving tools which serve as a basic line of defense against the coronavirus.
People fear walking into hospitals as most health care facilities want no clogging of emergency rooms. More than 820,000 people have been confirmed to have the virus globally, and at least 174,000 have recouped. 40,000 deaths and counting were reported according to Aljazeera.
An Understanding of how Telemedicine could be applied in Epidemic Situations.
Telemedicine has wide applications that deal with multiple medical specialties which aid in the provision of specialized healthcare through remote online accessibility. In the wake of epidemic outbreaks, the idea of telehealth has gained momentum drastically. Because telemedicine corresponds to asymptomatic individuals who are home based and in urgent need of care. Telemedicine implies the use of teleconsultation for non-emergency life threatening situations. Follow-ups with patients for their symptoms using telemonitoring is growing drastically. The need for telemedicine in epidemiological investigations throughout history cannot be denied. Epidemic viruses like Ebola, SARS, H7N9 influenza, MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and the H1N1 required quarantine-based care in the past. With the new wave of the coronavirus today there is a greater need for disease control and clinical case management. Australian officials have announced a $1.1 billion ($680 million) budget for telemedicine care options alone. This just proves the massive impact of telemedicine on the lives of those seeking health care in these turbulent times.
Green Sense Billing is impeccably streamlining workflows for all the health care heroes through our Telemedicine software. We make sure our professional team of medical billing and coding specialists are abreast of all the latest coronavirus testing and coding practices. Together we can grow to fight against this menacing pandemic.
