With the giant technological leaps in the 21st century, telemedicine has changed the delivery of health care. Now, patients do not need to wait for an appointment for diagnosis and treatment. The prevalence of COVID-19 has further encouraged the transition to telemedicine to reduce staff exposure, preserve PPEs and reduce the impact of patient surges on medical facilities.
Even though telehealth technology isn’t new, it’s widespread adoption beyond simple telephone correspondence has been low. The CDC reported a 73% increase in the number of patients receiving telehealth at the beginning of the pandemic. Telemedicine has, in turn, led to the fast growth of the medical marijuana industry. Over the coronavirus pandemic, insurers and the federal government endorsed medical marijuana as a form of therapy. Medical practitioners and doctors first have to acquire online certification to prescribe medical marijuana.
Thanks to Blockchain, the marijuana industry is now transparent and easily trackable. Blockchain has also created a platform where the quality and source of medical marijuana can be analyzed and verified.
On the receiving end, patient feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Patients are positively thrilled they do not have to walk into a doctor’s office anymore to set up appointments. The fact that the appointment involves mostly talking and less prodding is also a huge plus for most patients. For doctors, telemedicine has dramatically increased their flexibility and reach as they can now provide personalized counseling for people looking to acquire a medical marijuana card in the states where it has been legalized.
With the overwhelming strides, the digital sector has enabled medical services; people are advocating for telemedicine’s continued use even after the corona pandemic ends. The benefits have been immeasurably extensive to drop telehealth as a whole. Telehealth has met medical marijuana evaluations and shone a light on the benefits telemedicine has brought in patient interaction and receiving health care services.
Despite constant changes in the medical marijuana industry, it is likely here to stay.