Retirement has historically been associated with freedom, recreation, relaxation, and a well-deserved respite from the day-to-day grind. However, a growing trend among physicians who aren’t quite ready to give up on their love of medicine is starting to emerge. These committed professionals are transitioning to become telemedicine doctors rather than simply retiring. This transition not only enables them to continue practicing medicine around their schedules, but it also creates new opportunities to care for patients and have an impact on the rapidly changing healthcare industry.
The Aging Physician Workforce
In the United States, more than one-third of all practicing physicians are 55 years of age or older, according to a report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Many of these seasoned medical professionals are reluctant to retire completely and say goodbye to their patients. Telemedicine presents these experienced doctors with an attractive opportunity to continue their careers while managing a healthy work-life balance.
The Rise of Telemedicine
In recent years, telemedicine has grown at an unprecedented rate. According to a FAIR Health study, the number of Americans using telehealth increased by 4,347% between 2019 and 2020. As healthcare providers looked for safer ways to treat patients remotely, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly contributed to the adoption of these accelerated technologies. Despite the fact that the pandemic may have served as motivation, telemedicine’s advantages remain strong and continue to appeal to doctors from various specialties to seek out this modern way of providing patient care.
Flexibility and Convenience
The flexibility that telemedicine provides is one of the central factors that influence doctors’ decisions to choose that over traditional retirement. Doctors practicing telemedicine can set their own schedules and work from anywhere. They now have the flexibility to balance their work and personal lives, which is something that often proves to be difficult to do in a conventional clinical setting.
Access to a Broader Patient Base
Telemedicine breaks down geographical barriers, allowing doctors to reach patients far beyond their local communities. In addition to serving their current patients, telemedicine presents physicians with specialized knowledge or a devoted patient base with the chance to bring in new patients from other areas.
Technological Advancements and EHR Integration
Telemedicine technology advancements have streamlined and improved the efficiency of remote consultations. Healthcare providers can communicate and share data easily through the integration of telemedicine platforms and electronic health records (EHRs). This integration simplifies and improves patient care that provides telemedicine doctors with a thorough understanding of their patients’ medical histories.
Reshaping the Future of Care
The emergence of telemedicine practitioners heralds a paradigm shift in the medical field, where experienced physicians adapt to new technologies and patient preferences to continue practicing outside the traditional retirement age. This trend is likely to continue and reshape the future of healthcare delivery given the aging physician workforce and growing popularity of telemedicine.
By embracing telemedicine, these hardworking professionals are not only extending their careers, but also improving the accessibility and convenience of healthcare for patients nationwide. The future of medicine and patient outcomes will be greatly influenced by the availability of telemedicine doctors in the years to come. If you are a physician looking to embrace the next phase of your career, while gaining more flexibility and work-life balance, read here why opportunities at Eagle can make all the difference.
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