Born in the 1900s, telehealth was in its infancy but comes of age during the pandemic.
How would you normally see your doctor? You might travel to your doctor’s practice, wait for your name to be called and see them in person. Now, you might also open your electronic device and see your doctor through your screen. This is telehealth.
What is Telehealth?Telehealth is a broad term for the provision of healthcare in remote settings using digital technology and communications. Or more simply, it is healthcare provided over a distance. The term telehealth may also be used interchangeably with mHealth (mobile) or telemedicine.
Telehealth includes a wide range of different services for patient and healthcare professional communication, including via telephone and video, patient portal messages, E-Consults, virtual agents (chatbots) and wearable devices.1 Telehealth even includes telephone calls to the doctor’s office and emergency calls, so you may have already used it without realising.2
Telehealth: Origin Story One of the earliest uses of telehealth was in the 1920s; radio was used to transmit medical advice to ships.3 In 1925, telehealth landed a cover on the Science and Invention magazine, featuring a doctor diagnosing a patient through the radio.3 Since then, telehealth was used to deliver healthcare to patients in rural areas.4
Over the last few decades, support for telehealth was slowly growing. As technology developed and costs reduced, telehealth became more accessible.4 During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth is rapidly being adopted as it can meet patient care demands (including those who are self-isolating) while reducing virus transmission and maximising existing resources.1, 5
Telehealth TodayMany countries have shifted towards telephone and video consultations with each adopting telehealth to different extents.5 In China, 5G technology is being used to provide remote medical treatment.6 The US has expanded telehealth services; additional videoconferencing applications are being used, and previous Medicare requirements are temporarily waived.6 The Australian government has provided funding for telemedicine services.6,7 In the UK, the promotion of telehealth has been more limited, although Scotland has provided funding to support more video consultations.7
A number of devices are being used to facilitate telehealth. Patients have been sent devices such as pulse oximeters to measure oxygen levels for self-management and to minimise healthcare system load.5 A mobile telemedicine device has collected and assessed patient data, including respiratory rate and blood pressure.6 Healthcare facilities are adapting available equipment for telehealth; tablets attached to mobile structures, such as medical poles, can act as makeshift telehealth carts.1 mHealth applications are also facilitating treatment support, disease management and patient self-care.4
Future of Telehealth: Everything is Smarter Technologies to support telehealth are continually being developed; the future could bring more wearable devices, including accessories and implants, even smarter smartphones with more applications, and our homes could learn more too.5,8 Smart homes could be fitted with environmental and personal sensors, such as a mirror that monitors users’ health by analysing their skin.5, 9 The use of robots could become more widespread, as is already happening with ones implemented, which monitor patients and disinfect areas without any human contact.5,10 As the availability and sophistication of telehealth technology advance, they may be used more in clinical trials and drug development to help increase sample size, patient diversity and comparability of data.8
Warning: Telehealth has risksTelehealth may exacerbate the digital divide as it requires a stable internet connection for patients and hospitals.1 Telehealth should be affordable, easy to use and maintain, and keep healthcare information private and secure for both patients and healthcare professionals.1,5 Telehealth should also be flexible for integration with existing clinical care pathways and electronic health records.1,5 To realise long-term benefits of telehealth, collaborations may help establish best practice. Governments can support the health technology industry with policy change and transnational regulatory standards.4,5 Industry can work with patients and healthcare professionals to change any biases against telehealth and to ensure technologies are tailored to their needs.4,5
Telehealth: Coming soon to a screen near youTelehealth was growing slowly with developing technology and reducing costs. The global pandemic has pushed telehealth into its exponential growth phase. Telehealth is not a competitor or replacement of traditional healthcare services but an additional tool that when used optimally, could have significant benefits for both patients and healthcare professionals.
By Zoe Wong
