Often, we take a lot of things for granted. And often, too, it is when we do when we regret the most. However, when we finally take notice, and take action, on even the smallest things, it is when the biggest days of our lives happen, or at the very least not end. Below is a compilation of short stories that has saved a day for, or the life of, some people.
Antonio went home very late from work that day. He had tons to finish at the office and he was scheduled to go on a much-needed, well-deserved and long-awaited vacation the next morning. While exhausted from trying to beat all his deadlines and coordinating with colleagues on what needs to be further accomplished on his behalf while he was away, he was extremely excited at the same time. As he was packing his very last set of thermal wear (it was winter in Japan and he and his family were going to Sapporo in Hokkaido), his throat suddenly became very itchy and actually painful (something he did not feel earlier because of all the rush). When he peeked at it with the help of a flashlight, he saw something white at his tonsils. There it was, his perennial visitor since childhood, arriving on the eve of his trip. Because his flight was just a few hours away and there was just no time for him to get a prescription from the office clinic or any hospital for that matter, he called up his cousin and neighbor who happened to be a newly-minted doctor. He was able to buy his antibiotics, alright. But what if his relative was out of town or out of the country or otherwise indisposed? And what if he did not know any doctor at all and had nobody else to talk to? Is there an alternative way for people like Antonio to get a prescription 24/7 and online at that?
Belinda (a single mother) was with her three kids ages five, seven and nine. They were at the swimming pool of their subdivision on that sunny weekend. Her kids of course enjoyed their time at the water. She was busy following up on their snack. When the pizza delivery finally arrived and her children joined her at the pavilion, she immediately noticed that all of them had these tiny red spots so many she cannot even begin to count them. Naturally, she panicked, and did not know who to call or where to go. Their subdivision is in the suburbs and too far away from the nearest health center of any medical-related institution. She also does not know any doctor or anybody from the medical field (she works from home and does outsourced editing work for a friend who runs a publishing house). Good thing one of the guests at the clubhouse previously experienced the same thing with her toddler so she had some antihistamine tablets inside her pouch. After an hour or so, the rashes subsided, and were completely gone before they left for home. But what if she was all alone and had nobody to consult during that emergency situation? And what if the cause of the tiny red spots were not some kind of allergy but something worse and the wrongly-taken medicine actually made things even more complicated? Is there an alternative way for people like Belinda to get competent medical advice by being able to send photos or videos of the rashes to a specialist right at the moment they are discovered?
Carmela is the breadwinner of her family. She financially supports her jobless parents (her father is disabled and her mother already retired as a public school teacher) and her younger siblings (one is in high school and the other in college). They are all living in a rented house (actually, in a community of rowhouses). She is working for a local branch of a multinational conglomerate (the operations in the country is still in its exploratory stage). The weird setup in their office is that a lot of applicants are accepted to work on probation but very few are retained for permanent, or semi-permanent employment, because even those who have hurdled the probation period can still be replaced but better-performing ones at the expiration of their respective short-term contracts. Anyway, she has been suffering severe chest pains for weeks. She wanted to go see a doctor, but neither had the free time nor the extra money to do so. One day, she almost fainted because she could no longer endure the suffering. It was then that her superior disclosed to her that they have an HMO and that the package included Telemedicine services that will allow her to consult a doctor without leaving the office because their chosen provider can be contacted either by phone or by email. It turned out that she was having heartburns caused by acid regurgitation into her esophagus and was given proper medical treatment. But what if she did not have any benefit like that as part of her employment privileges? And what if she was in fact suffering from something far worse and did not get timely medical attention? Is there an alternative way for people like Carmela to address their medical concerns?
Based on the above short stories, and without a doubt there are more out there that actually saved a life or two or more, it would immediately be clear and convincing that Telemedicine is the way to go, especially in this day and age of traffic, travel and all the emergencies and accidents that could happen in between. Telemedicine is the use of information and communication technology for the remote and distant diagnosis and treatment of patients. It is already available in our country. Several providers have already penetrated the market although it is not yet as popular as the traditional consultations done inside clinics and hospitals. Now, it is still an alternative. In the future, it might turn out to be the most preferred mode. However which way this industry goes, it is good for the peace of mind of everybody to know that subscriptions to this kind of service is presently available, largely accessible and relatively affordable. Maybe all institutions and establishments should be required to include this in the benefits and privileges for their employees, either bundled in their HMO subscriptions or as an independent service? Perhaps the government can subsidize it somehow, especially for the underprivileged sectors or those who are living in remote areas where the presence of any medical personnel is few and far between, if not rare or totally absent? For working so hard, people deserve a break. No need to brave the traffic. No need to stay in line for hours on end. No need to wait for the availability of a personal doctor or a general doctor who may be on their own breaks. No need for the sun to rise or the weekend to finish or the holidays to be over.