Exploring the Future of Telehealth: Changes and Trends

Telehealth is an evolving industry within healthcare, influenced by developments in technology and patient needs.

As the broader healthcare system continues to change, these differences are reflected in how telehealth is implemented and utilized. The future of telehealth promises fundamental improvements in care delivery services, but it isn't without its risks.

So, what exactly does this future look like? Let's take a look together.

Telehealth as a changing industry

Telehealth relies on technology to exist, meaning that changes to relevant technology will inevitably influence how telehealth systems operate.

We live in a digital age, where innovative and new technological solutions are at the forefront of care delivery services, opening up possibilities for a more streamlined and effective care system. As we continue to see how these developments unfold, we simultaneously observe changes in the implementation and utilization of telehealth.

Additionally, technological advancements are supported by legislative and regulatory updates targeting telehealth services. In the past five years, the US has seen numerous legislative changes, including coverage parity, the inclusion of audio-only telehealth in Medicaid and Medicare programs, and cross-state telehealth licensure for physicians. These advancements allow telehealth to continue developing, opening up exciting possibilities for the future of care delivery.

Telehealth after the COVID-19 pandemic

Since 2020, telehealth has been on the rise. 

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally altered how healthcare services were delivered. People who required care were stuck inside, and healthcare practitioners increasingly relied on telehealth to provide that care. As the world faced a global crisis, the healthcare industry was required to be as flexible as possible to manage the treatment of all other patients while reducing the risk of spreading the virus.

The increased need for virtual care put pressure on regulatory bodies, which responded to these changing needs in various ways, including expanding reimbursement policies to incorporate telehealth services. Physicians and other healthcare practitioners who had previously only delivered in-person care could now treat patients virtually.

A CDC report noted that telemedicine increased from 15.4% to 85.9% among office-based physicians between 2019 and 2021.

Notably, the outcome of the COVID-19 telehealth boom has had significant benefits for both practitioners and patients. 

Practitioners can reach a broader range of patients, particularly those living in isolated areas or with lifestyle limitations preventing them from seeking in-person care. They can manage their schedules more effectively and experience a much more efficient care delivery process, saving time without compromising patient care.

In turn, patients can receive the care they require from the comfort of their own homes while mitigating the risks of contracting COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

The advantages that became apparent during the pandemic remain true, as we can see through the continued expansion of telehealth services. Over the past four years, it has become evident that while COVID-19 was a true catalyst for telehealth's growth, virtual care does not exist within the vacuum of the pandemic.

Instead, alongside regulatory and technological advancements, telehealth continues to grow and develop, offering innovative solutions for delivering care.

The evolution of telehealth in different medical specialties

Coinciding with these changes to the telehealth industry, the past five years have seen the expansion of telehealth into numerous medical specialties.

Psychiatry and other mental health fields are care specialties that observe the highest rates of telehealth sessions, a trend that existed even before the pandemic. A possible explanation for this is that mental health consultations often occur without needing a physical examination. However, it’s important to note this doesn’t mean telehealth sessions are less engaging, and practitioners can employ telehealth activities to effectively engage with their patients.

The use of telehealth across the mental health field continues to grow as mental health facilities embrace and adopt virtual care to deliver services to patients in need.

Notably, mental health is not the only medical specialty that has seen an increase in telehealth usage.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the usage of pediatric telehealth for childcare services. This increase highlighted the advantages of pediatric telehealth, including overcoming access barriers to pediatric specialists and difficulty traveling to in-person appointments with children. A study published by the CDC found that the outcomes of telehealth for pediatric care are comparable to or better than in-person care.

Finally, telehealth has also expanded significantly into medical fields related to chronic disease management. While telehealth isn't often the service method used for diagnoses, it is highly effective at chronic disease management for diseases including diabetes and hypertension. Patients can access regular care services while being given the tools to self-manage symptoms. While there are instances where in-person care is necessary, telehealth continues to prove itself as a highly effective method of managing chronic diseases.

We've witnessed how telehealth has transformed various medical specialties, making healthcare more accessible and convenient. Now, let's delve into the trends that will shape its future.

Looking into the future: predicting telehealth trends

It's important to note that changes affecting telehealth don't stop with the impacts of COVID-19. As technology continues to disrupt the healthcare industry, some of these emerging telehealth trends will shape the future of virtual care.

AI in telehealth

AI is currently at the forefront of technological changes, disrupting preexisting systems and leading to the development of innovative new technologies. As such, there is no doubt that AI will impact the future of telehealth. The more important question is what that future will look like.

AI will continue to play an increasing role in patient interaction. An AI bot integrated into telehealth systems may be the first point of call for patients accessing telehealth services. Going further than this, AI in healthcare could be utilized to triage patients, automate an initial response process, and create a prioritized waiting list. 

While there remains work to be done to improve the functionality and responsive quality of AI, there are numerous benefits associated with incorporating AI in this way, a primary one being its ability to bridge communication barriers between patients and practitioners. Of course, a major concern involves regulating AI to ensure it responds appropriately to patients in all possible situations. Still, the progress we've seen so far with learning models suggests this future isn't that far away.

On a more medical level, AI learning models show an aptitude for identifying health concerns in patients and even making diagnoses. Large language models (LLMs) can streamline the diagnostic process by collecting patient data, analyzing symptoms, making diagnostic suggestions, and formulating personalized treatment plans. 

Using similar technology, AI may also become increasingly adept at analyzing medical imagery and forming responsive diagnostic and treatment recommendations. In the realm of telehealth, these processes improve the efficiency of diagnostic methods, helping patients to receive the care they need regardless of where they are in the world.

AI is also transforming how remote care devices are used in telehealth. These devices enable patients with chronic conditions to access care remotely at home while also allowing practitioners to monitor health status closely yet virtually. AI can identify and notify the relevant parties when a patient’s health deteriorates, allowing for early intervention and ensuring patient safety and the effectiveness of remote care management.

Growing access to healthcare

Beyond technological advancements, telehealth is continuing to lower barriers to healthcare access. 

The most significant opportunity for telehealth growth is likely targeted towards those who live in isolated or rural areas. These areas are less likely to have sufficient healthcare services, and people who live there must travel long distances to access the care they need. Rural locations typically correlate positively with low-income households, which can mean that traveling to receive already costly healthcare services is unfeasible for many. 

Telehealth also massively reduces the exposure risk to illnesses, which is often an issue at in-person consultations. Similarly, practitioners also experience access benefits from delivering telehealth services. Highly specialized physicians can see a greater number of patients, and their chances of contracting an illness from patients are also removed.

As telehealth becomes an increasingly prominent method of delivering care, access barriers will be reduced, and patients, regardless of where they live, will be able to receive the care they need.

Enhanced patient experience

Telehealth also empowers patients to be more involved in their care.

This is evident through a range of different methods, including wearable technology. Patients with chronic conditions or who require regular health check-ins can use telehealth and wearable technology to ensure they receive adequate care without attending in-person appointments.

Before the development of wearable technology, telehealth was only available for patients who didn't require physical exams or procedures involving devices. Technology has now advanced to the extent that blood pressure, heart rate, insulin levels, and other measurements can be determined using devices outside of an inpatient facility, empowering patients to play a more involved role in managing their health. As this type of technology continues to develop, an increasingly broad patient demographic will be able to monitor their health without needing in-person sessions.

Further, many of these devices function by sending results to relevant physicians. As such, practitioners can monitor their patient's health and determine whether telehealth or inpatient sessions are the most appropriate. This way, patients are empowered to manage their own care without compromising their safety or the effectiveness of interventions.

The ability to stay connected with their healthcare providers and receive timely feedback significantly improves the overall patient experience, making healthcare more accessible and patient-centered.

Reduced healthcare spending

Another key area where telehealth is expected to develop is reduced healthcare spending.

Telehealth's early successes suggest we may have identified a feasible way of bringing some healthcare costs down, evening the playing field for delivering care services, and ensuring all patients can access quality care.

Firstly, remote monitoring can reduce the need for costly in-person consultations while simultaneously facilitating early interventions. As demand for telehealth increases, there will be a larger pool of practicing physicians, which means a greater number of patients will be seen at a faster rate.

The two benefits of this change are, most importantly, the ability to see and treat patients more efficiently and reducing the burden on overstretched care facilities. Healthcare practitioners can save on overheads if consultation rooms are no longer required. The need for administrative staff will also be reduced, and practitioners can instead invest in technology solutions that improve the telehealth process for patients.

However, this reduction in spending should not suggest that telehealth doesn't come with its own set of costs. Physicians interested in delivering services via telehealth will need to invest in a system that enables effective (and secure) video conferencing. Fortunately, as demand for telehealth increases, the availability of excellent software increases, and pricing packages become more competitive.

Telehealth: do the benefits outweigh the costs?

As you've seen, the future of telehealth is expansive. But we'd be remiss not to acknowledge some of the biggest concerns facing the increasing implementation of telehealth.

Patient privacy and its importance

One of the most significant concerns healthcare practitioners from all fields have with telehealth is patient privacy and confidentiality laws. This is entirely understandable — the importance of patient privacy cannot be overstated, and every physician must ensure that it is maintained irrespective of the method of care delivery.

So, how can we ensure telehealth protects patient privacy rights? Firstly, HIPAA still applies to telehealth, and all video conferencing technology used in healthcare needs to recognize HIPAA regulations. The same repercussions apply following a telehealth HIPAA breach as an in-person one.

On a more granular level, protecting patient privacy involves end-to-end encryption, secure telehealth systems, access controls, and incorporating telehealth consent forms to ensure patients are aware of the involved risks.

Technological barriers to accessing care

Another issue impacting telehealth expansion is technological barriers, including limited access to technology and unreliable internet connectivity. Although telehealth is increasing access to care for people living in isolated or remote areas, some people have difficulty accessing appropriate technology to engage with telehealth.

Similarly, some patients may not have the skills required to operate technology efficiently or may live in areas with insufficient broadband and internet connectivity. Globally, there has been a significant improvement in internet accessibility over the past decade. However, there is still a long way to go before everyone has adequate internet access.

To combat technological barriers, healthcare providers and tech companies must continue developing effective and intuitive telehealth solutions with patients at the forefront.

Telehealth is not a replacement for in-person care

Telehealth can only go so far in delivering care.

After all, some medical conditions still require in-person treatment. It's important here to emphasize that the expansion of telehealth doesn't equate to the elimination of in-person care. Instead, it aims to refine these systems and ensure care delivery is optimized not only for the patient's needs but also for efficiency and affordability.

There are absolutely situations where telehealth may not be the best option available to patients, and it is vital for high-quality in-person care facilities to cater to these circumstances. However, the overwhelming majority of quantitative and qualitative research suggests that improving the telehealth experience for patients who want it has significant benefits for all.

Preparing for the future of telehealth

Over the past two decades, telehealth has become an increasingly popular method of delivering care. While concerns about the implementation of telehealth are valid and worthy of consideration, it is increasingly clear that the benefits outweigh the costs. As such, telehealth is paving the way for a more streamlined and effective care delivery system.

Implementing telehealth into your service isn't as daunting as it might seem. Many excellent telehealth solutions currently available adhere to required privacy regulations and allow an intuitive and smooth process for patients. As they become more popular, they are also reducing in price, meaning the upfront cost for telehealth investment is very low. You can start by offering a few telehealth services, get the hang of it, and then figure out the best way to grow.

There is a lot to be excited about when it comes to the future of telehealth. We saw a massive boom during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this trend will continue to lead to increasingly sophisticated virtual care solutions. 

While apprehension about change is always understandable, telehealth will be crucial to a future where virtual care plays a key role in healthcare delivery. Embracing it now will bring immense benefits to both you and your patients.

Ensure your telehealth practice meets the highest standards of privacy—explore HIPAA-compliant solutions.

Edited by Jigmee Bhutia