Will Telehealth Visits Continue Beyond COVID-19?
Earlier this year, many providers incorporated telehealth into their practices. While telehealth is not new, before COVID-19, it was primarily only used in very limited circumstances.
Once the pandemic reached America, the country went into lockdown, and many non-urgent or elective procedures were postponed.
This presented a challenge for physicians and their patients with chronic diseases.
To address this challenge, many doctors incorporated advanced telehealth access programs to allow their patients to receive the care they needed without physically going into their physician’s office.
Telehealth was, and still is, a successful alternative for many patients. According to some experts, the service created a niche that could continue after the COVID-19 crisis is over.
Understanding the Patient Preference For Telehealth Services
In a recent Harmony Healthcare IT survey of 2000 Americans regarding telehealth use, researchers found that most patients enjoyed their telehealth experience.
Among the key findings:
- 67% of participants had used telehealth services since the start of the pandemic as compared to 46% that had used telehealth services prior to it
- On average, participants had 2.9 telehealth visits since COVID-19
- 72% admitted to having enjoyed their telehealth experience
- 71% of participants were fearful of in-person doctor visit due to COVID-19
Key Benefits
Virtual doctor visits have helped healthcare providers continue to monitor their patient’s treatment progress while minimizing their risk of contracting the virus.
Survey participants mentioned they found virtual medical visits to be convenient and safer for them as they did not need to travel.
Other benefits included flexibility and less wait time compared to in-person visits. 61% of the respondents mentioned they spent less time waiting in the virtual waiting room than they usually did with an in-person visit.
Despite its benefits, telehealth is not without its drawbacks. At least one-third of participants experienced delays during their telehealth visit due to technical difficulties and 28% said those delays caused them to miss or reschedule their appointment.
The Future of Telehealth Beyond COVID-19
Even though many respondents reported a positive telehealth experience, 55% said they would still prefer an in-person visit.
Patients may not feel as comfortable with telehealth visits because they are concerned about online security and privacy when using virtual platforms such as zoom, skype, facetime, and Microsoft teams.
However, as this modality’s popularity increases, software companies may create specialized medical platforms that increase online security for patient data.
Although telehealth is an excellent tool for doctors to follow up with their chronic disease patient’s symptoms, in-office visits will still be needed, especially for patients who require infusion treatments.
At Altus Biologics, we continue to advocate for medical, pharmaceutical, and technological advances that improve patient care, minimize risk, and enhance chronic disease patients’ quality of life.
