Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTelehealth OverviewWhat It TreatsAdvantagesDisadvantagesOutlookHow to UsePreparing for an Appointment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Telehealth Overview
What It Treats
Advantages
Disadvantages
Outlook
How to Use
Preparing for an Appointment
Telehealth is a way to receive healthcare services remotely through electronic devices like your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Telehealth services come in different forms, such as live video or audio appointments, secured text messaging with your healthcare provider, or remote monitoring devices that allow your healthcare provider to track things like your blood sugar.
This article describes how telehealth started and the different ways that telehealth can and cannot be used. It also explores the advantages and disadvantages of telehealth and whether it is the best option for you.
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Telemedicine vs. TelehealthTelehealth is sometimes referred to as telemedicine, but there are subtle differences. Telehealth refers to a variety of services, like connecting providers (such as labs and pharmacists), providing remote training, coordinating staff (like home health workers), and handling remote admissions. Telemedicine is just one aspect of telehealth focused solely on patient care.
Telemedicine vs. Telehealth
Telehealth is sometimes referred to as telemedicine, but there are subtle differences. Telehealth refers to a variety of services, like connecting providers (such as labs and pharmacists), providing remote training, coordinating staff (like home health workers), and handling remote admissions. Telemedicine is just one aspect of telehealth focused solely on patient care.
Telehealth Overview and History
Telehealth has been around since long before theCOVID-19pandemic, but it was arguably during the lockdowns of 2020 that telehealth came into the public’s consciousness.
Telehealth, as we know it today, began over 50 years ago when NASA developed telehealth services for astronauts on long-duration missions.
By the 1990s, telehealth was introduced as a means to deliver remote care to specific occupations, such as a system called Mednet that connected healthcare providers with workers on ships. Remote devices were soon after introduced that allowed healthcare providers to monitor people withsleep apneaor keep track of people withAlzheimer’s diseaseusing GPS technology.
The advent of high-speed internet, webcams, video chats, and specialized smartphone apps spurred the rapid adoption of telehealth in the early-2000s.
A 2020 review published inBMC Public Healthconcluded that telehealth improved the delivery of healthcare during the pandemic, minimizing COVID-19 transmission and potentially reducing morbidity and deaths.
Telehealth Today
Today, telehealth encompasses a variety of virtual services that you can access through personal electronic devices, secure web portals, or dedicated monitoring devices. Although many people associate telehealth with “virtual health visits,” it has come to mean much more than that.
Today, telehealth can serve many different purposes, such as:
Telehealth is even being explored as a way for surgeons to perform remote robotic surgery (“telesurgery”) for conditions like kidney tumors.
How to Use Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic
What Can Telehealth Treat?
Due to advances in video and medical technology and online security, telehealth can be utilized in many fields of practice once thought unimaginable. These include primary care, dermatology, dietetics, mental health, cardiology, endocrinology, and others.
Common conditions treated or managed with telehealth include:
Types of visits appropriate for telehealth include:
Which Providers Use Telehealth Most?According to the American Medical Association, the medical practitioners who utilize telehealth the most are radiologists (39.5%), psychiatrists (27.8%), and cardiologists (24.1%). The medical practitioners who utilize telehealth the least are obstetrician-gynecologists (9.3%), gastroenterologists (7.9%), and allergists/immunologists (6.1%).
Which Providers Use Telehealth Most?
According to the American Medical Association, the medical practitioners who utilize telehealth the most are radiologists (39.5%), psychiatrists (27.8%), and cardiologists (24.1%). The medical practitioners who utilize telehealth the least are obstetrician-gynecologists (9.3%), gastroenterologists (7.9%), and allergists/immunologists (6.1%).
Advantages of Telehealth
Increased Accessibility
Telehealth is particularly beneficial for people inrural or isolated locationswho might otherwise skip checkups or have limited access to urgent care. Telehealth is also more accessible for people who have mobility issues or are restricted to bed because of illness or infection.
Telehealth can also help people with conditions likeagoraphobiaorsocial anxietywho find it difficult to leave the house or those with long or inconvenient work hours who can benefit from a telehealth appointment after normal office hours. People with chronic illnesses that are often stigmatized like major depression or HIV/AIDS may also be more likely to seek care through telemedicine.
Telehealth may also be a faster way to access services. In many cases, a telehealth provider can see you right away, sometimes within minutes or hours of making an appointment.
Reduced Hospitalizations
Telehealth may lead to reduced hospitalizations, in part because people can access care earlier before severe symptoms develop.
A 2015 study in theAmerican Journal of Managed Carereported that among people with a prior cardiovascular event, those who used telehealth for follow-ups had 31% fewer hospital admissions than those who didn’t.
Cost-Effectiveness
Generally, telehealth appointments are less costly than in-person because more patients can be seen in the same timeframe with fewer support staff.
Beyond the actual out-of-pocket costs, telehealth can also be more cost-effective. Research indicates telehealth can offer additional cost-savings such as:
Telehealth is also linked to increased independent living and better quality of life for those who are older or frail.
How Telehealth is Changing Health Care
Avoiding Waiting Rooms
During the COVID-19 pandemic, access to healthcare services through telemedicine was implemented to help limit the spread of the virus.This is still an important reason why you may want to choose telemedicine services over in-person visits.
By using telemedicine during flu season or at times when these viruses are known to be spreading in your community, you may be able to avoid exposure to COVID-19 and other illnesses such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This is particularly important for older people, people who are unvaccinated, or those who are immunocompromised.
Disadvantages of Telehealth
While telehealth may be more accessible for many people, it has its limitations and drawbacks that may make it less appropriate for certain groups.
Technical Barriers
Telehealth requires a certain level of technical literacy.Older populationsand those with cognitive problems may not be able to utilize the services without a caregiver’s help.
Older age is also associated with lower technology use. A 2022 study inClinical Liver Diseasereported that only 53% of adults 65 and over in the United States own a smartphone and only 59% have broadband access.
Other technical barriers include slow broadband speeds and unreliable internet service (particularly in remote regions) that can cause video calls to drop or interfere with streaming.
Cost
Telehealth requires a personal electronic device such as a computer or smartphone as well as internet access. Socioeconomic disparities alone may stand in the way of this.
A 2023 study from the University of Central Florida found that ethnic minorities and people with lower incomes are far less likely to access telehealth for economic reasons.
In Black communities especially, where poverty rates run high, people were less likely to engage in telehealth services than other ethnic groups. (In the same way, Black people are less likely to access healthcare in clinics due tocost and other social or economic reasons.)
Similarly, unemployed people are 15% less likely to access telehealth than those with a job.
Limitations in Care
There are also limitations as to what can and cannot be done via telehealth. In the end, some health services can’t be replicated virtually and require in-person visits.
These include appointments for:
Because telehealth providers can’t conduct a physical examination, there is also a greater risk of misdiagnosis associated with telemedicine services.
Regulations and Insurance Restrictions
Different states and insurance providers have different regulations and restrictions when it comes to telemedicine. For example:
Privacy Concerns
Telehealth also comes with a broad range of privacy concerns, which may affect some groups more than others. For example:
There are steps you can take to ensure your privacy when using telehealth services:
The Future of Telehealth
Telehealth was popular during the COVID-19 pandemic when lockdowns kept people confined to their homes and the healthcare system was overburdened. By 2022, however, telehealth use was significantly down, with an overall usage of around 31% compared to around 39% the previous year.
Other studies have found that there is still a preference for in-person telehealth services, with around 80% of providers saying they would rather provide limited or no telehealth services in the future, and only 36% of patients saying they prefer telehealth over an in-person visit.
Some analysts believe this indicates a trend towards limited telehealth services in the near future, though changes in access and improvements in home-based diagnostic tools could change this.
How to Use Telehealth
Before scheduling a telehealth appointment, speak with your provider and ask what platform or service they are using. It may be FaceTime on your iPhone, a Zoom call on your computer, or a secure portal on the internet.
If possible, do a test run to see if you can use the platform without freezing, dropped lines, sound problems, or pixelation (when the image breaks up).
How to Find a Telehealth Provider
If you have insurance, check directly with your insurance carrier when looking for a provider to see if they’ve partnered with any organizations that provide telehealth.
Some health insurance companies also provide searchable directories of healthcare providers with telehealth options. The providers in your health insurer’s directory should also accept your insurance, though it’s always a good idea to confirm this with the provider.
How to Prepare for a Telehealth Appointment
Summary
Telehealth involves the use of technology to deliver medical care remotely. This not only includes virtual visits on your smartphone, laptop, or tablet but also the sharing of electronic records, management of prescriptions and lab results, and the remote monitoring of conditions like diabetes.
The advantages of telehealth include convenience, generally lower costs, and more consistent management of medical conditions. Disadvantages include a lack of access to technology, a lack of technical literacy, the cost of telehealth for low-income people, and privacy concerns.
There are also limitations to the types of conditions that telehealth can and cannot treat.
21 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Aeronautics and Space Administration.A brief history of NASA’s contributions to telemedicine.Cuffia A.The Medical Library Association guide to developing consumer health collections.J Hosp Librarianship. 2019 Jan;19(1):84-5. doi:10.1080/15323269.2019.1568127Telehealth.HHS.gov.Telehealth policy changes after the COVID-19 public health emergency.Monaghesh E, Hajizadeh A.The role of telehealth during COVID-19 outbreak: a systematic review based on current evidence.BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1193. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09301-4Li J, Yang X, Chu G, et al.Application of improved robot-assisted laparoscopic telesurgery with 5G technology in urology.Eur Urol.2023 Jan;83(1):41-4. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2022.06.018American Medical Association.Which medical specialties use telemedicine most?Hirko KA, Kerver JM, Ford S, et al.Telehealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for rural health disparities.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. 2020;27(11):1816-1818. doi:10.1093/jamia/ocaa156Obisike EE.The effectiveness of telemedicine on stigmatization and treatment burden in patients with health compromising lifestyles and chronic diseases: A critically appraised topic.Open Sci J. 2018;3(1).Pande RL, Morris M, Peters A, et al.Leveraging remote behavioral health interventions to improve medical outcomes and reduce costs.Am J Manag Care. 21(2):e141-e151Peters GM, KooijL, Lenferink A, van Harten WH, Doggen CJM.The effect of telehealth on hospital services use: systematic review and meta-analysis.J Med Internet Res.2021 Sep;23(9):e25195. doi:10.2196/25195Avidor D, Loewenstein A, Waisbourd M, Nutman A.Cost-effectiveness of diabetic retinopathy screening programs using telemedicine: a systematic review. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation. 2020;18(1):16. doi:10.1186/s12962-020-00211-1White-Williams C, Liu X, Shang D, Santiago J.Use of telehealth among racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Public Health Rep. 2023;138(1):149-156. doi:10.1177/00333549221123575Price JC, Simpson DC.Telemedicine and health disparities.Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken).2022 Apr;19(4):144–7. doi:10.1002/cld.1171U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing chronic diseases and promoting health in rural communities.Williams C, Shang D.Telehealth usage among low-income racial and ethnic minority populations during the COVID-19 pandemic: retrospective observational study.J Med Internet Res. 2023;25:e43604. doi:10.2196/43604Holčapek T, Šolc M, Šustek P.Telemedicine and the standard of care: a call for a new approach?Front Public Health. 2023;11:1184971. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1184971American Academy of Family Physicians.Legal requirements for using telehealth services.Houser SH, Flite CA, Foster SL.Privacy and security risk factors related to telehealth services - a systematic review.Perspect Health Inf Manag. 2023;20(1):1f.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Telehealth privacy and security tips for patients.Shilane D, Lu TH.Declining trends in telehealth utilization in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.J Telemed Telecare. 2023:1357633X231202284. doi:10.1177/1357633X231202284SteelFisher GK, McMurtry CL, Caporello H, et al.Video telemedicine experiences in COVID-19 were positive, but physicians and patients prefer in-person care for the future.Health Aff (Millwood). 2023;42(4):575-584. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01027
21 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Aeronautics and Space Administration.A brief history of NASA’s contributions to telemedicine.Cuffia A.The Medical Library Association guide to developing consumer health collections.J Hosp Librarianship. 2019 Jan;19(1):84-5. doi:10.1080/15323269.2019.1568127Telehealth.HHS.gov.Telehealth policy changes after the COVID-19 public health emergency.Monaghesh E, Hajizadeh A.The role of telehealth during COVID-19 outbreak: a systematic review based on current evidence.BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1193. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09301-4Li J, Yang X, Chu G, et al.Application of improved robot-assisted laparoscopic telesurgery with 5G technology in urology.Eur Urol.2023 Jan;83(1):41-4. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2022.06.018American Medical Association.Which medical specialties use telemedicine most?Hirko KA, Kerver JM, Ford S, et al.Telehealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for rural health disparities.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. 2020;27(11):1816-1818. doi:10.1093/jamia/ocaa156Obisike EE.The effectiveness of telemedicine on stigmatization and treatment burden in patients with health compromising lifestyles and chronic diseases: A critically appraised topic.Open Sci J. 2018;3(1).Pande RL, Morris M, Peters A, et al.Leveraging remote behavioral health interventions to improve medical outcomes and reduce costs.Am J Manag Care. 21(2):e141-e151Peters GM, KooijL, Lenferink A, van Harten WH, Doggen CJM.The effect of telehealth on hospital services use: systematic review and meta-analysis.J Med Internet Res.2021 Sep;23(9):e25195. doi:10.2196/25195Avidor D, Loewenstein A, Waisbourd M, Nutman A.Cost-effectiveness of diabetic retinopathy screening programs using telemedicine: a systematic review. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation. 2020;18(1):16. doi:10.1186/s12962-020-00211-1White-Williams C, Liu X, Shang D, Santiago J.Use of telehealth among racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Public Health Rep. 2023;138(1):149-156. doi:10.1177/00333549221123575Price JC, Simpson DC.Telemedicine and health disparities.Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken).2022 Apr;19(4):144–7. doi:10.1002/cld.1171U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing chronic diseases and promoting health in rural communities.Williams C, Shang D.Telehealth usage among low-income racial and ethnic minority populations during the COVID-19 pandemic: retrospective observational study.J Med Internet Res. 2023;25:e43604. doi:10.2196/43604Holčapek T, Šolc M, Šustek P.Telemedicine and the standard of care: a call for a new approach?Front Public Health. 2023;11:1184971. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1184971American Academy of Family Physicians.Legal requirements for using telehealth services.Houser SH, Flite CA, Foster SL.Privacy and security risk factors related to telehealth services - a systematic review.Perspect Health Inf Manag. 2023;20(1):1f.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Telehealth privacy and security tips for patients.Shilane D, Lu TH.Declining trends in telehealth utilization in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.J Telemed Telecare. 2023:1357633X231202284. doi:10.1177/1357633X231202284SteelFisher GK, McMurtry CL, Caporello H, et al.Video telemedicine experiences in COVID-19 were positive, but physicians and patients prefer in-person care for the future.Health Aff (Millwood). 2023;42(4):575-584. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01027
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration.A brief history of NASA’s contributions to telemedicine.Cuffia A.The Medical Library Association guide to developing consumer health collections.J Hosp Librarianship. 2019 Jan;19(1):84-5. doi:10.1080/15323269.2019.1568127Telehealth.HHS.gov.Telehealth policy changes after the COVID-19 public health emergency.Monaghesh E, Hajizadeh A.The role of telehealth during COVID-19 outbreak: a systematic review based on current evidence.BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1193. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09301-4Li J, Yang X, Chu G, et al.Application of improved robot-assisted laparoscopic telesurgery with 5G technology in urology.Eur Urol.2023 Jan;83(1):41-4. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2022.06.018American Medical Association.Which medical specialties use telemedicine most?Hirko KA, Kerver JM, Ford S, et al.Telehealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for rural health disparities.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. 2020;27(11):1816-1818. doi:10.1093/jamia/ocaa156Obisike EE.The effectiveness of telemedicine on stigmatization and treatment burden in patients with health compromising lifestyles and chronic diseases: A critically appraised topic.Open Sci J. 2018;3(1).Pande RL, Morris M, Peters A, et al.Leveraging remote behavioral health interventions to improve medical outcomes and reduce costs.Am J Manag Care. 21(2):e141-e151Peters GM, KooijL, Lenferink A, van Harten WH, Doggen CJM.The effect of telehealth on hospital services use: systematic review and meta-analysis.J Med Internet Res.2021 Sep;23(9):e25195. doi:10.2196/25195Avidor D, Loewenstein A, Waisbourd M, Nutman A.Cost-effectiveness of diabetic retinopathy screening programs using telemedicine: a systematic review. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation. 2020;18(1):16. doi:10.1186/s12962-020-00211-1White-Williams C, Liu X, Shang D, Santiago J.Use of telehealth among racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Public Health Rep. 2023;138(1):149-156. doi:10.1177/00333549221123575Price JC, Simpson DC.Telemedicine and health disparities.Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken).2022 Apr;19(4):144–7. doi:10.1002/cld.1171U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing chronic diseases and promoting health in rural communities.Williams C, Shang D.Telehealth usage among low-income racial and ethnic minority populations during the COVID-19 pandemic: retrospective observational study.J Med Internet Res. 2023;25:e43604. doi:10.2196/43604Holčapek T, Šolc M, Šustek P.Telemedicine and the standard of care: a call for a new approach?Front Public Health. 2023;11:1184971. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1184971American Academy of Family Physicians.Legal requirements for using telehealth services.Houser SH, Flite CA, Foster SL.Privacy and security risk factors related to telehealth services - a systematic review.Perspect Health Inf Manag. 2023;20(1):1f.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Telehealth privacy and security tips for patients.Shilane D, Lu TH.Declining trends in telehealth utilization in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.J Telemed Telecare. 2023:1357633X231202284. doi:10.1177/1357633X231202284SteelFisher GK, McMurtry CL, Caporello H, et al.Video telemedicine experiences in COVID-19 were positive, but physicians and patients prefer in-person care for the future.Health Aff (Millwood). 2023;42(4):575-584. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01027
National Aeronautics and Space Administration.A brief history of NASA’s contributions to telemedicine.
Cuffia A.The Medical Library Association guide to developing consumer health collections.J Hosp Librarianship. 2019 Jan;19(1):84-5. doi:10.1080/15323269.2019.1568127
Telehealth.HHS.gov.Telehealth policy changes after the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Monaghesh E, Hajizadeh A.The role of telehealth during COVID-19 outbreak: a systematic review based on current evidence.BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1193. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09301-4
Li J, Yang X, Chu G, et al.Application of improved robot-assisted laparoscopic telesurgery with 5G technology in urology.Eur Urol.2023 Jan;83(1):41-4. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2022.06.018
American Medical Association.Which medical specialties use telemedicine most?
Hirko KA, Kerver JM, Ford S, et al.Telehealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for rural health disparities.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. 2020;27(11):1816-1818. doi:10.1093/jamia/ocaa156
Obisike EE.The effectiveness of telemedicine on stigmatization and treatment burden in patients with health compromising lifestyles and chronic diseases: A critically appraised topic.Open Sci J. 2018;3(1).
Pande RL, Morris M, Peters A, et al.Leveraging remote behavioral health interventions to improve medical outcomes and reduce costs.Am J Manag Care. 21(2):e141-e151
Peters GM, KooijL, Lenferink A, van Harten WH, Doggen CJM.The effect of telehealth on hospital services use: systematic review and meta-analysis.J Med Internet Res.2021 Sep;23(9):e25195. doi:10.2196/25195
Avidor D, Loewenstein A, Waisbourd M, Nutman A.Cost-effectiveness of diabetic retinopathy screening programs using telemedicine: a systematic review. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation. 2020;18(1):16. doi:10.1186/s12962-020-00211-1
White-Williams C, Liu X, Shang D, Santiago J.Use of telehealth among racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Public Health Rep. 2023;138(1):149-156. doi:10.1177/00333549221123575
Price JC, Simpson DC.Telemedicine and health disparities.Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken).2022 Apr;19(4):144–7. doi:10.1002/cld.1171
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing chronic diseases and promoting health in rural communities.
Williams C, Shang D.Telehealth usage among low-income racial and ethnic minority populations during the COVID-19 pandemic: retrospective observational study.J Med Internet Res. 2023;25:e43604. doi:10.2196/43604
Holčapek T, Šolc M, Šustek P.Telemedicine and the standard of care: a call for a new approach?Front Public Health. 2023;11:1184971. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1184971
American Academy of Family Physicians.Legal requirements for using telehealth services.
Houser SH, Flite CA, Foster SL.Privacy and security risk factors related to telehealth services - a systematic review.Perspect Health Inf Manag. 2023;20(1):1f.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Telehealth privacy and security tips for patients.
Shilane D, Lu TH.Declining trends in telehealth utilization in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.J Telemed Telecare. 2023:1357633X231202284. doi:10.1177/1357633X231202284
SteelFisher GK, McMurtry CL, Caporello H, et al.Video telemedicine experiences in COVID-19 were positive, but physicians and patients prefer in-person care for the future.Health Aff (Millwood). 2023;42(4):575-584. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01027
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