Telemedicine can be tricky
Virtual care increased by 50% last year with latest predictions claiming that telemedicine is here to stay. Yet, various healthcare constituents are voicing valid concerns about it.
A national medical innovation expert has questioned the value of virtual medicine. Dr. Peter Pronovost from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center said, “We know preciously little about telemedicine’s impact on quality.” In particular, he is uncertain about whether or not it is actually solving problems.
There are other challenges.
Studies indicate how in-person visits are more successful at building trust, which contributes to the likelihood of patients complying with treatment. They’ve found that prescriptions for antibiotics have become more prevalent “just to be safe.” People living in rural and underserved areas without high-speed internet may still be excluded from adequate healthcare because of video requirements. Some insurers are already beginning to roll back coverage as emergency telehealth benefits granted last year are set to expire.
Compassion, a cornerstone of medical intervention, is also at risk when patients or their loved ones hear devastating news during video calls rather than in person. Technology has clearly transformed the power of medicine to diagnose and treat disease. However, it’s become apparent that maintaining healthy patient relationships is equally valuable. Therein lies the challenge going forward.