When you have questions about your health or are feeling under the weather, you usually set up a face-to-face meeting with your healthcare provider. But advancements in communication technology are allowing people to consult with their doctors anytime and anywhere through a service called telemedicine.

In some parts of the world, physicians still make house calls, but this practice is becoming rare. Today, most patients either go to a clinic or hospital, make a quick trip to a pharmacy for instant relief, or stay at home and consult with caregivers via telemedicine.

Telemedicine means exactly as it sounds — a medical service delivered via telephone or any communications platform. It sounds like a new development in medicine, but it’s really not. While most people still prefer to go to the hospital to receive treatment, the many advancements in telemedicine are beginning to change this.

Physicians in certain parts of the world still make house calls, but they’re a rare breed. Today, most patients either go to a neighborhood clinic or hospital, or make a quick trip to a pharmacy for instant relief. Patients who prefer to get treated in the comfort of their own home have another option too: telemedicine.