Telehealth gained a lot of popularity in the past two years. As with any advancing technology, there are many pros and cons to telehealth.
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Now that telehealth is mainstream, many providers are figuring out the benefits and the issues. Providers are finding what works for their practice and adapting to new technology.
Telehealth had many great features and was helpful to many patients seeking care in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For example, a recent study found that virtual care reduced stress for residents and increased access to services.
However, telehealth has its drawbacks. There are barriers to communication and added to social isolation.
Additional benefits of using telehealth include:
- Avoiding travel time and costs,
- Easier access to care,
- Convenience,
- Enhanced communication,
- Additional privacy,
- Easy follow-ups,
- and more.
While some of the downsides to using telehealth are:
- Less ability to interact with patients for diagnosis,
- Difficulty for patients with disabilities or impairments,
- Security challenges,
- Technology challenges for providers and users,
- Increased burdens on staff,
- and more.
Different physician practices have found their own advantages and disadvantages of using telehealth and certain telehealth platforms.
Depending on the nature of the practice and patient base, telehealth was helpful in varying degrees.
The recent study found that many nursing facilities used telehealth to keep patients in place, reduce hospitalizations and improve care.
Let us know if you use telehealth by commenting below!
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