The implementation of telemedicine to reduce doctor visits in the social medicine clinic at Hatyai hospital

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread adoption of telemedicine as a means of reducing the risk of transmission of the virus. This paper examines the implementation of telemedicine in the social medicine clinic at Hatyai Hospital, which provides care for approximately 3,000 patients with chronic illnesses. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of telemedicine in reducing the number of doctor visits among patients. Method: Data on doctor visits before and after the implementation of telemedicine were analyzed using process mining techniques. Frequency, mean, and percentage were calculated to assess the impact of telemedicine on doctor visits. Result: The study found a 9.96% reduction in doctor visits compared to the period before the implementation of telemedicine. The duration of the visits was also reduced by 5 minutes per person, without a significant difference in clinical outcomes for patients with hypertension and diabetes. Conclusion: The implementation of telemedicine in the social medicine clinic at Hatyai Hospital successfully reduced the number of doctor visits and the duration of each visit. This technology has the potential to improve access to care and reduce healthcare costs, especially during times of public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.