Medical Furniture for Virtual Consultations: A Growing Trend

Medical Furniture for Virtual Consultations: A Growing Trend 

As we are all familiar with the rise of technology over the past decade, it has provided significant opportunities for advancements within the medical industry that can benefit both practitioners and patients. One rapidly growing trend is the use of medical furniture for virtual consultations. The convenience and ease of being able to telecommute and share medical information has been a huge advantage for medical professionals, saving time and money while also keeping patients safe. In this blog, I will go into further depth of this emerging trend, exploring the ways in which it has benefited both the medical profession and its patients.

Medical furniture equipped with technology such as video conferencing equipment can provide great convenience for both doctor and patient during virtual consultations. For example, it facilitates the use of physical examination tools that would otherwise not be possible in a purely virtual visit (Lehman, 2020). Additionally, increased comfort while the patient is in view on camera can help with patient interactions and understanding of the patient from a distance (Marriott, 2018). On the other hand, designing and purchasing medical furniture for this purpose can be costly and can also require an extensive time investment for installation and troubleshooting issues if technology fails (Grace,2020). Ultimately, these costs and investments should be weighed against the potential benefits such furniture can provide in order to determine the best method for virtual consultations.

Medical furniture such as office rooms with comfortable seating, exam tables, and medical equipment can be great additions to virtual consultations, as it can make the process more efficient, streamlined, and professional (Thomas). On the other hand, the cost of medical furniture must be taken into consideration before implementing it into online consultations (Rui et al.). Furthermore, using medical equipment may require the assistance of specialists to ensure the equipment is used correctly and may increase waiting time for patients and radiologists (Rui et al.). All of these cons must be evaluated before investing in medical furniture for virtual consultations, but if the cost is manageable and specialists are available, the use of medical furniture for virtual consultations can provide many benefits.

Using medical furniture during virtual consultations can provide multiple advantages to both patient and therapist alike. The furniture can be used to help keep both parties within close proximity, allowing for more accurate medical consultations (Vizniak, Ma, and Jackson 2). Additionally, the furniture can help reduce the amount of time needed for an appointment, as any necessary adjustments can be made quickly and effectively (Vizniak, Ma, and Jackson 3). Although there can be some downsides to this method, such as the fact that some medical furniture may be too large or too small depending on the size of the room (Ohn 4). Nonetheless, with the growing popularity of virtual consultations, medical furniture can be a great way to help achieve the most accurate medical consultations.

When it comes to medical consultations conducted via video call, it is clear that the patient should not rely on makeshift furniture as a suitable replacement for medical furniture (Bigio et al., 2020). Not only do makeshift furniture choices make the environment feel unprofessional, they also lack the proper workspace, storage, and comfort options that dedicated medical furniture provides (Green et al., 2019). As a result, the inconvenience and discomfort of makeshift furniture pieces create obstacles for both the physician and patient, often resulting in an inadequate standard of care (Lee et al., 2017). Therefore, it is crucial that medical professionals looking to conduct consultations via video call leverage dedicated medical furniture for maximum patient comfort and care.

Medical furniture for virtual consultations is a growing trend in the medical community as it reflects an evolution in healthcare delivery. With medical furniture adapted for virtual exams, healthcare providers are able to conduct secure remote consultations without compromising on professionalism and patient safety. Healthcare providers are utilizing medical furniture with ergonomic features that encourage posture support, a comfortable working environment, plus they create a favorable impression of their practice. Moving forward, continued deployment of medical furniture specifically designed for virtual consultations is projected to become more widespread, positioning healthcare professionals at the forefront of innovative field.

References:

Bigio, J., Galvan, L., Osorio, J. et al. (2020). Virtual Clinical Consultations during the COVID-19 Pandemic: an Observational Cross-Sectional Study. BMC Health Serv Res 20, 636. doi:10.1186/s12913-020-05438-1

Green, H. et al (2019). Strategies for Assessing and Reducing Patient Discomfort in Inpatient Care Settings. J Nurs Adm, 50. doi:10.1097/NNA.

Lee, S. et al (2017). Bridging the Gap between Comfort and Care: Comfort Rounds for Inpatient Nursing Practice. J Nurs Adm, 48. doi:10.1097/NNA.

Lehman, J. (2020). Medical furniture supports video conferencing during virtual visits. Health Facilities Management. 33. 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2020.04.004.

Marriott, D. (2018). Patient experience in outpatient endoscopy: review of research. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep, 16. doi:10.11124/jbisrir-2018-003131

Ohn, C. (2004). The impact of seating design on postoperative comfort. AORN J, 80. doi:10.1016/j.aorn.2004.08.011

Rui, L., Yeung, D., and Chan, T. (2012). Factors Affecting the Use of Advanced Medical Equipment in Primary Care clinics. Hong Kong Medical Diary, 17. Retrieved from http://www.hkma.org.hk/publications/hong-kong-med...

Thomas, K. (2017). The Benefits and Consequences of Virtual Reality in Health Care. OMICS: A Journal