Videoconferencing on the rise across many industries
As reported by this blog, the use of videoconferencing is quickly gaining popularity across all industries – not just the legal system. This includes medicine, which is why residents of Ware County, Georgia can now see a physician despite the nearest doctor being a four-hour drive away in Atlanta, according to Bloomberg.
With videoconferencing equipment set up in its schools, the county is at an advantage compared to most rural areas. The source cited the National Rural Health Association, which has data showing that nearly 25 percent of Americans live in rural areas but only 9 percent of physicians work outside of major cities.
In addition, the association's data highlights that rural residents are 4 percent more likely to be uninsured than workers in metropolises. Complicating that, these residents are also more likely to carry risky diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis and bronchitis, which should be handled by medical specialists.
"As we're looking toward the future, everybody knows the system is strained," Kenneth Krakaur, senior vice president of Sentara, which partnered with MDLive to provide medical videoconferencing services in the Southeast U.S., told the source. "We live in a 'there's an app for that' kind of society, so this fits well."
This may be why, according to WinterGreen Research, the telemedicine industry is expected to grow by $2.5 billion by 2018. This is up from the $736 million it showed this past year. But, these services aren't just for medicinal purposes.
As videoconferencing expands into more industries, it's clear that its practicality and efficiency is beneficial to nearly all professions. Lawyers in the Midwest may want to partner with Milwaukee court reporters that offer videoconferencing services to conduct more efficient depositions or hearings.
