Telemedicine Impacts on Healthcare

In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated that telemedicine take center stage in healthcare. Telemedicine, as defined by the National Academies Press, is “the use of electronic information and communication technologies to provide and support health care when distance separates the participants.”¹ In this article, we will discuss the positive and negative implications of broader telemedicine implementation in healthcare.

The primary benefit of telemedicine during the pandemic was to allow healthcare specialists to monitor and check in with patients over the phone or via video, minimizing unnecessary contact. However, additional benefits have been discovered with its increased implementation. One such benefit has been improved access to healthcare services for patients. For some, transportation to the doctor's office can be challenging; with the opportunity to schedule a visit via telemedicine, the provider can conduct more regular appointments, so long as being physically present is not necessary. This is especially helpful for lower-income families, as the cost of getting to the doctors can be expensive.² Telemedicine is also very helpful for patients with chronic illnesses, as they have to be seen more frequently; instead of the patient having to come in every 2-4 weeks, they can opt for an at-home telemedicine appointment. This can also decrease stress and anxiety for those who struggle with mental illnesses. 

Telemedicine also improves the efficiency and productivity of the office. With telemedicine visits, the provider can spend more time with each patient and see more patients daily. The increased volume of possible visits is, in most cases, due to fewer obstacles to patients arriving on time - getting lost, traffic concerns, or even finding a parking spot. Additionally, the provider is able to stay in one place rather than going from room to room and back to their office to complete charting and speaking with patients. Telemedicine has also reduced the need for physical paperwork, as any questionnaires and forms are filled out online and can be stored in the EHR systems. This has significantly helped with medical records, as there are fewer issues with missing or misfiled paperwork. 

Another positive improvement, proven through telemedicine studies, has been the willingness of the patient to engage in their healthcare needs and overall health.³ With telemedicine, patients can communicate with their providers via portal messaging and be seen faster. It also eliminates patients needing to schedule transportation before they can schedule an appointment, or needing to take time off work to travel to the clinic.⁴ Patients also have easier access to their medical information since offices use EMR systems during their visits. 

While many benefits exist, telemedicine also has some challenges and limitations. One is the lack of access to high-speed internet and technology necessary to complete the video visits. This commonly comes up with geriatric patients or less technology-savvy individuals. These patients may have a harder time adapting to the software of the various platforms in use for telemedicine.

Another issue that has arisen is patient safety. With a telemedicine visit, there is no way for the provider to complete a complete physical; they cannot listen to the patient's heart or lungs and can not look into their ears, nose, or throat.⁵ Providers also cannot palpate lymph nodes, masses, or areas of tenderness. For some, it has been problematic to communicate that simply because they are being seen doesn’t mean they can be treated for a condition without the proper exams and testing.

Finally, telemedicine has presented some privacy issues. This is because patients often complete their visit(s) via phone or video in an uncontrolled setting, allowing family, friends, or bystanders to overhear private personal and/or medical information. Given these common issues, it is crucial for the provider to ask if anyone else is present in the room and if it is okay for them to conduct the visit virtually. 

All in all, telemedicine is having a positive impact on healthcare. Although it has its drawbacks, there are many benefits, including improved access to healthcare services, increased work efficiency and productivity in clinical offices, and improved patient and provider interactions.

 

 

References

1. Field, M. J. (Ed.). (1996). Telemedicine A Guide to Assessing Telecommunications in Health Care (p. 1). National Academy Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/5296/chapter/1
2. Whelan, C. (2020, November 20). 17 Benefits of Telemedicine for Doctors and Patients. Retrieved February 1, 2024, from https://www.healthline.com/health/healthcare-provider/telemedicine-benefits#benefits
3. Whelan, C. (2022, November 19). Patient Engagement Using Telemedicine in Primary Care during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Trial Study. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved February 1, 2024, from 
4. Telemedicine Journal and E-Health (2022, September 7). Primary Care Visits Are Timelier When Patients Choose Telemedicine: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved February 5, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9634963/
5. Patient Safety Network (2022, December 14). Telehealth and Patient Safety. PSNet. Retrieved February 1, 2024, from https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primer/telehealth-and-patient-safety