The coronavirus outbreak has radically changed American life. With the rise of social distancing as the new normal, many companies have turned to telecommunications platforms such as Zoom and Skype in order to continue to conduct their business. The coronavirus has also brought about changes in the healthcare industry, most importantly the rise of telemedicine. Although created before the outbreak of the pandemic, telemedicine has gained traction in recent months as an alternative means of receiving medical care for those unable to travel to a hospital or urgent care facility. As a result, remote interpreting has become more important than ever for allowing all Americans, regardless of their native language, to receive medical attention from their healthcare professionals.
The Coronavirus and Remote Interpreting
Telemedicine is a healthcare service that allows patients to access healthcare services from the comfort of their own home. Through this service, patients are able to consult with their doctor or healthcare professional either by phone or by video conference about any medical issues or questions they may have. Telemedicine can even allow doctors to monitor their patients by requiring that they check their vital signs through easy-to-use heart monitor apps. In the case of the coronavirus, telemedicine can allow doctors to evaluate patients remotely in order to assess whether or not they have the characteristic symptoms of the virus. This prevents hospitals from becoming overloaded with patients and reduces strain on hospital staff, thereby creating a more efficient system.
The Government Response to the Virus
With the advent of the coronavirus, investment in this relatively novel form of medicine has become a priority. On March 27th, 2020, President Donald Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law. In addition to economic aid for American workers affected by the crisis, this bill allocated funds for numerous telemedicine services. For instance, the act granted $200 million to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve telemedicine technologies. Additionally, on March 17th, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) temporarily expanded Medicare coverage to include telemedicine services in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Importance of Remote Interpreting Services
Because of this increased interest in telemedicine, investment in remote interpreting services has become even more critical. Given the linguistic diversity of the United States, video remote interpreting is essential to providing the proper care to patients through telemedicine. For instance, if a doctor is unable to ascertain a patient’s exact symptoms because of a difference in language, telemedicine cannot be effective. Therefore, although the proper steps have been taken to increase American access to telemedicine, this increase must be accompanied by a corresponding increase in investment in video remote interpreting services. By doing so, the United States, with the help of healthcare and video remote interpreting companies, will finally be able to flatten the curve and return to normalcy.
About Language Connections:
Language Connections is one of the top language service companies in the US. Over the last 30 years, we’ve focused on providing the best business translation services, interpreting services, as well as interpreter training and customized language training programs. In addition to top-tier corporate language training, we offer certified corporate interpreters and professional business translation services in 200+ languages. Our network includes linguists with backgrounds in all major industries. They’re ready to meet your needs, whether they’re for technical translation services, legal translation, government translation services, international development translation services, education translation services, life sciences translation, or something else. Reach out to us today for a free quote on our cost-efficient and timely translation services, interpreters, or other linguistic services.
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