Advantages of telehealth technology Answer 2 for DNP 805 Consider current telehealth strategies and alternatives

Using technology to deliver health care has several advantages, including cost savings, convenience, and the ability to provide care to people with mobility limitations, or those in rural areas who do not have access to a local doctor or clinic. Telehealth has become even more essential during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Fears of spreading and getting infected with the virus during in-person medical visits have led to a greater interest in, and use of, technology to provide and receive health care (Park J, Erikson C, Han X, Iyer P. 2018).

Disadvantages of telehealth technology

Negative clinician attitudes toward telehealth have been identified as a key barrier to overall telehealth acceptance and implementation. Clinicians identified telehealth-related concerns about their ability to establish therapeutic alliance, software and equipment usability, associated costs, whether telehealth-delivered services were equivalent to face-to-face treatment, and HIPAA rules.

It is not possible to do every type of visit remotely. Patients have to go into the office for things like imaging tests and blood work, as well as for diagnoses that require a more hands-on approach. The security of personal health data transmitted electronically is a concern. While insurance companies are increasingly covering the cost of telehealth visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, some services may not be fully covered, leading to out-of-pocket costs (Demeke HB, Pao LZ, Clark H, et al. 2020).

References

Demeke HB, Pao LZ, Clark H, et al. Telehealth practice among health centers during the COVID-19 pandemic—United States, July 11–17, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:1902–5. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6950a4