Amidst the pandemic, telehealth visits became the sole means for people to connect with their doctors. Although this allowed patients to access the necessary medical care and demonstrated that healthcare could be administered remotely, the approach was not without its flaws.
It is not always possible for a doctor to diagnose a patient remotely. This is because doctors may be unable to properly assess and diagnose conditions through Zoom or a phone call alone. In many instances, patients will still need to have an in-person follow-up appointment, even after their televisit.
Another problem that emerged from televisits was the ability to access a doctor. Since not everyone is able to use a secure personal computer, have an internet connection, or a high-quality cell phone, it became challenging for many to make these televisit appointments.
Although there was a significant increase in televisits in April 2020, the use of telehealth has remained consistent since June 2020. However, there has been a recent shift in the specialties that utilize telehealth most frequently. For instance, psychiatry and substance use treatments tend to have the highest numbers when it comes to televisits, while ophthalmology and orthopedic surgery have the fewest.
Nonetheless, consumer research continues to show that patients continue to view televists as a critical part of the future of healthcare. More importantly, even though these views vary depending on the type of medical care needed, around 40% of survey consumers indicated that they would continue to use telehealth visits going forward, up from 11% of consumers using telehealth before COVID-19.
As patient interest continues to stay high for telehealth visits and investment in the space continues to grow, televisits will likely continue to stay with us for the long haul. However, for the medical field to ensure that this is a good option for their patients, certain changes still need to be made, especially regarding data integration and access.
At Goodman Allen Donnelly, we are regulatory, business, and litigation lawyers that have the skills, knowledge, and dedication to protect and defend you against investigations and lawsuits. With our extensive experience handling these types of legal issues, our legal team is ready to provide you with the advice you need relating to:
If you want further information regarding telehealth visits and what they can mean for your business, contact Goodman Allen Donnelly today and schedule a consultation with an experienced member of our legal team.
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