by Gregory Ferguson
Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash
The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the rapid expansion and adoption of telemedicine. As a result, a number of significant trends have emerged that will influence how healthcare is delivered in the future.
Increased Utilization and Acceptance
Telemedicine has become increasingly popular as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic; estimates suggest that up to 80% of medical visits could be done online. The quick change has led to a greater acceptance of telemedicine as a practical and practical form of healthcare among patients and providers.
Expanded Telemedicine Services
The scope of telemedicine is growing beyond video consultations to encompass a greater number of services like virtual care coordination, remote surgical operations, and remote patient monitoring. This enables the provision of more thorough care.
Advancements in Technology
The possibilities of telemedicine are being enhanced by emerging technologies like as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and 5G. This includes enhanced video quality, AI-powered diagnostics, and remote patient monitoring.
Focus on Chronic Disease Management
Because it enables more regular monitoring and intervention, telemedicine is showing to be very helpful in the management of chronic illnesses. Better health outcomes and lower healthcare expenditures may result from this.
Addressing Healthcare Disparities
Although there are still obstacles in ensuring fair access to technology and broadband, telemedicine has the potential to increase underprivileged populations’ access to care in both rural and urban locations.
Regulatory and Reimbursement Changes
Policy reforms pertaining to reimbursement and regulations have been prompted by the pandemic and have resulted in increased accessibility to telemedicine. It will be essential to provide parity in reimbursement and coverage.
Conclusion
The swift development and expansion of telemedicine has revolutionized the way healthcare is delivered, and these new developments imply that virtual care will continue to be crucial to the healthcare system’s future.
MCR Committee: Health
References:
Oren, W. (2024, May 20). The Future of AR and VR in Telehealth. Agora. https://www.agora.io/en/blog/the-future-of-ar-and-vr-in-telehealth/
Bsn, O. B. M. (2023, November 27). The Importance of Telehealth Parity Laws. ICANotes. https://www.icanotes.com/2022/03/09/telehealth-parity-laws/