How WebRTC will revolutionize the healthcare industry
One consistent trend that has emerged in the healthcare industry is the idea of using telehealth services to monitor patients outside of the traditional clinic setting.
While most firms understand the need for and potential benefits of this service, the issue that many companies have is how to implement it in an increasingly security-conscious world.
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WebRTC is one method that is gaining traction in this field, as it offers a cost-effective and a secure method of implementing streaming video services online with a minimum implementation costs.
WebRTC’s Low Cost, Ease of Implementation and Use
Many industry competitors, such as the developers of proprietary video and communications hardware and software, haven't shown too much concern over the threat of WebRTC, even as the list of companies using this service continues to grow.
The transport layer technology that WebRTC is built upon offers real time voice, video, and data sharing as a native function of any current internet browser, without requiring complicated plugins, codecs or software like Skype or GotoMeeting.
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This doesn't just give patients and doctors an easy (click to call) and secure method of video communication. It also allows the developers of medical applications, doctor and hospital websites the ability to easily implement these higher-quality video communication features into their services at a minimal cost.
Most developers and proponents agree that because of these desirable benefits, WebRTC will be a game-changing piece of technology that will soon become a standard function in modern web browsers.
WebRTC is Becoming the Standard
These proponents of WebRTC have won major battles in having their standards become the go-to choice for online video communications. This includes an upcoming ratification by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which is the body responsible for setting the de facto standards that govern the construction of web sites and web applications, as well as backing from companies that include Google, Firefox, Opera, and most recently Microsoft.
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What does this mean for telehealth in the future? The WebRTC standard will continue to grow and improve, which will prompt greater adoption rates among telehealth companies.
Given the low cost of implementation and security of the connection, American enterprises are projected to spend less than 20 per cent of their current spending levels on telecom services within five years, which in turn will help lower medical costs.
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