Electronic Health Reporter

Improvements in technology have greatly improved the accessibility to care when it comes to addiction treatment and recovery, and 5G is one of these changes that have been especially beneficial.

Improvements to telehealth, and the possibility of remote care has increased the quality of life for many recovering addicts.

In addition to this, 5G has made connecting to close friends and family, accessing online support groups and additional therapy, and the sending of essential medical information much easier and more reliable.

These improvements  have only grown in relevancy as time goes on, and it will only continue to do so. For example, this relevancy is made very evident when considering the current COVID-19 pandemic. Here are 5 ways 5G will improve healthcare. 

• It improves telehealth

Telehealth is life changing for those living in rural and remote areas because traditional addiction treatment programs are often not available to people living in these parts of the world. 5G will make telehealth more reliable and productive.

Telehealth often involves video conferencing, and 5G will improve the video and audio quality of these online calls. This will make these remote appointments more effective. Other elements like the faster sending of emails, documents, and images will improve telehealth and make it more effective as well. Having mobile devices only enhances this accessibility of 5G, and these devices connected to 5G make attending appointments through telehealth even easier. 

• It allows for remote care

5G has made it possible to have reliable and safe real time care from the comfort of your own home. This is especially great for those who live in areas with traditional alcohol or drug rehab programs that are at full capacity and areas where there are no traditional addiction treatment programs available at all. 5G allows for medical staff and therapists to check in with the recovering addict frequently.

“For example, if a person is detoxing from drugs or alcohol, frequent remote care is ideal and much safer than detoxing on one’s own. Online outpatient care is a type of treatment that has rapidly developed since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Mathew Gorman, CEO of Eudaimonia Recovery Homes. “It allows for proper treatment of withdrawal symptoms and early intervention if those symptoms become life-threatening.”

In these cases medical care can be given before a tragedy occurs. This can save many people’s lives, especially during tragedies that confine individuals to their homes like the current coronavirus pandemic. 

• More reliable remote services

There are other services besides alcohol and drug rehab programs that are beneficial during addiction treatment and recovery, however. Online support groups and various types of necessary therapy have been greatly improved by the introduction of 5G.

The improved quality of audio and video calls during remote therapy sessions have made them go more smoothly. Similarly, the increased capacity of group video conferences and chat groups made possible by 5G has improved remote support groups as well.

These services are often crucial early into sober living. These services may be needed for an extended amount of time as well. This is especially true when it comes to treatments such as clinical therapy. 

• Reliable sending of medical information 

5G has increased the reliability of sending medical information. This includes medical documents and images that require large file sizes such as MRI scans. Increasing the reliability of sending this medical information greatly improves healthcare in all fields. With the emergence of medical scans now available without needing a doctor’s recommendation such as a private MRI scan, delivering the results straight to your doctor is now easier, thanks to 5G technology. When it comes to addiction treatment, this improves healthcare quality when medical information is needed from another medical or rehab facility, especially when there is an emergency and information needs to be sent quickly. 

• It keeps you connected to your support system 

5G has made connecting with close friends and family much easier and accessible. There are going to be times where you may need to reach out to your support system when they are not around, and with 5G that is possible through good quality audio and video calls.

Fast messaging over the internet is also a good option if you do not feel like talking over the phone or a video call. Having this is extremely important during addiction treatment and recovery, especially during an alcohol or drug detox. Having a support system readily accessible greatly reduces the chances for a relapse and overdose, so the importance of this enhanced factor as a result of 5G cannot be stressed enough. 

Conclusion 

5G has made numerous improvements in healthcare when it comes to addiction treatment and recovery. The improved quality of video and audio calls have improved telehealth by making remote medical and therapy appointments more productive and accessible.

5G has improved the quality of other remote services like online support groups as well. This along with more reliable online messaging has made keeping in close contact with support systems easier, which greatly improves addiction treatment outcomes. 5G increases the speed and reliability of sending medical documents, and it allows for remote care. These two advancements have the potential to be life saving for many recovering addicts across the country.