Telehealth

Introduction

Telehealth utilizes digital information and communication technologies, such as laptops, tablets or smartphones, to provide remote access to healthcare services.

  • The COVID-19 pandemic, with its emphasis on minimizing social contact, spurred a rapid expansion of telehealth services.



Advantages: Improve Patients' Satisfaction

Improved Access to Healthcare

  • Particularly beneficial for rural and remote area or patients with mobility issues.
  • Patients can receive healthcare services from the comfort of their own homes, eliminating the need for travel and reducing disruptions to their daily lives.

Reduced Waiting Times and Patient Crowding

  • For patients with stable chronic conditions, telehealth facilitates the remote review of health data, such as blood test results, and allows for remote patient interviews. This combination enabling timely interventions and personalized care.
  • Pharmacists can provide remote medication counselling and management services, improving medication adherence and patient safety.



Challenges to Telehealth Adoption

Technology Limitations

  • Telehealth rely on a reliable internet connection and appropriate device (e.g. smartphones, computers).
  • Patients with limited technical skills or lacking access to necessary technology may find these services difficult to use.
  • Also, the initial set-up of telehealth systems, including hardware, software, connectivity and operational cost, requires significant investment of time, effort and financial resources.

Resistance to Change

  • Some patients may prefer the traditional face-to-face consultation due to familiarity and concerns about the quality of remote care.
  • They may also miss the human connection and empathy that often associated with in-person interactions.
  • Concerns about the confidentiality of medical information and the potential for data breaches are also significant barriers.
Provider Hesitancy
  • Some healthcare professionals may be hesitant to adopt telehealth due to concerns about the quality of care.
  • These concerns often arise from the inability to conduct in-person physical examinations and the potential for delays or inaccuracies in receiving patient data, such as updated blood test results or imaging results.
  • In the worst-case scenario, miscommunications or incomplete information could lead to medication errors or misunderstandings.

E-Prescription Abuse and Patient Safety



Summary

While telehealth offers a promising approach to healthcare delivery, it currently serves as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, existing healthcare systems. This is due in part to legal challenges and other obstacles that require careful consideration.

  • Even with the capability for remote review of blood work and imaging, some clinicians may still prefer the perceived reliability of in-house results, potentially requiring patients to visit the hospital for necessary screenings.
  • Although e-health platforms may integrate e-prescription and delivery services, mail-order medication carries risks of delay, theft, or loss.
  • Critically, some medications require refrigeration, and inadequate temperature control during transit can compromise their efficacy, often necessitating a trip to a local pharmacy.



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