How your smartphone can help your physical health and mental health
Whether pandemic-driven or not, many Australians have flicked the switch on how they manage their healthcare, with 28.8% of people in 2020-21 having at least one telehealth consultation with a healthcare professional, and 83.4% of these people reporting they would use telehealth for a consultation if offered again.
It seems that now, more than ever, we’re noticing a shift in desire for Australians to access healthcare from the palms of their hands.
We live in a world where you can order your meals, transport, and clothing from your smartphone. Now it’s time for the health care system to claim its piece of real estate on the World Wide Web by enabling online access to doctors, personal medical records, medications, and treatments.
Patients are the reason for the healthcare system, so they should be at the centre of it. And, here’s how with 5 easy ways to manage health online.
Use apps for health and stress management
Data collected in 2020-21 indicated that 17.3% of people needed to see a health professional for their mental health. Of these people, 34.3% delayed or did not see a health professional at least once when needed due to specific barriers, such as consultation costs and increased wait times.
With the increasing number of affordable health apps available on smartphones and devices, Australians living with mental health and sleep issues can find support in the form of stress management and mindfulness apps. Not only do these apps help in reducing stress, they also complement therapy and behavioural techniques in a multi-pronged approach to treatment on their terms.
For women experiencing ongoing premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms that may be cause for concern, period tracking apps provide a health record to track signs and symptoms that occur throughout the four stages of the menstrual cycle. These apps also serve as a diagnostic tool for health conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis, if users of these apps choose to share information with a medical professional for further assessment.
Buy medication and health services online
Australians living with long term conditions (40.1%) were more likely to use telehealth services than those without a long term health conditions, proving that the transition from the traditional in-person clinic visit to an online healthcare experience is well underway.
Whether its for long term chronic conditions or everyday health and well-being, Australian digital healthcare platforms are leading the way in providing many benefits beyond the traditional doctor experience.
With secure access to online resources, such as doctors, health records, and medications, you can manage your and your family members’ overall health from the comfort of your home. Digital healthcare platforms, like hub.health, have removed the hassle of visiting health professionals for medical advice in person, placing the control and time back in your hands.
Track your medication with electronic prescriptions (e-scripts)
The pharmacy serves a great purpose in maintaining vitamin and medicinal supplies when you need them. But, squeezing a pharmacy visit into an overflowing schedule is one life task many people could do without.
Filling your prescriptions should be easy, convenient, and accessible. By uploading the token provided by your doctor, online prescription services like Fill-a-script are making everyday lives easier by meeting pharmaceutical health needs with prescription fulfilments from your home, from your office, and even when you’re away on holidays.
Electronic prescriptions make healthcare simple. You can save yourself the stress of losing paper scripts and manage health issues like diabetes and heart disease with fast prescription dispensary from local pharmacies. You can even stock up on all your pharmacy favourites at the same time (e.g. hair care, skin care, general hygiene supplies).
Book your own health appointments online
“Please hold the line, and we’ll be with you as soon as possible”, is a line Australians are notoriously familiar with. And, when you’re on the brinks of the common physical symptoms of a weakened immune system, or in need of your regular health checks, a computerised voice message is the last thing your ears want to process when trying to book an in-person appointment with a doctor.
Through the power of technology, you can now book appointments online and receive confirmation within moments of clicking that shiny ‘book now’ button on the website. The best part is that you can book appointments online for in-person doctor visits, telehealth consultations, and online video consultations depending on your preference.
Order healthy food choices online
Meal delivery services are the way of the future for busy Australians who don’t want to sacrifice their health and well-being for frozen meals or fast-food. If you know you have a busy life and planning meals is hard enough, let alone shopping, preparing and cooking them, then it may be time to consider replacing the fast food diet of processed foods with a wholesome meal delivery service.
Meal delivery services have evolved from the days of popping a container into the microwave and zapping it into a lacklustre meal with tasting notes of a cardboard box. These days, meal delivery services – like Hello Fresh, Soulara, and Marley Spoon – provide options for you to participate in the preparation of your meals as little or as much as you like.
Remember, a good diet is the one that is sustainable for you. Meal delivery services are helping health-conscious Aussies to keep the belly fat off, and maintain a healthy weight eating foods that are loaded with nutrition and take minimal time to prepare.
We’re here to help
Looking for convenient digital healthcare? Consult with a hub.health doctor today!
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