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Telemedicine What to knowMedically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD — By Rachel Ann Tee-Melegrito on September 29, 2022Telemedicine is a term that covers the use of technology to deliver clinical care at a distance. It ensures that a person receives healthcare when needed, especially for those with limited access to care. Telemedicine uses electronic and telecommunication technology to provide an exchange of medical information, despite a person and their doctor not being in the same room.
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It can be as simple as text messaging medical care to as advanced as remotely controlled surgery. Experts have used telemedicine in clinical settings for decades, with its first reference in a clinical setting recorded in medical literature in the late 1950–1960s. This article explores telemedicine, its uses, potential benefits, and drawbacks.
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It also answers frequently asked questions about the practice. What is telemedicine
Share on PinterestYoshiyoshi Hirokawa/Getty ImagesTelemedicine allows a person to seek a doctor’s advice about nonemergency situations that do not require an in-office visit. Currently, 76% of hospitals in the United States connect with people at a distance.
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They do this through video conferencing or other technology. A person may also get medical services through a secure portal where the doctor can access their electronic medical record database. However, insurance companies and practitioners do not consider telemedicine distinct from onsite services.
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Types
Telemedicine has several types, including:real-time video communication remote monitoring, which involves health data being reported, collected, and evaluated, such as:blood pressurescardiac statsoxygen levelsrespiratory ratesstore-and-forward — storing and sharing medical information, such as:CAT scansMRIsX-raysphotos, videos, and text-based patient data
Telemedicine uses
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), there was a 63-fold increase in the use of Medicare visits through telehealth from 2019–2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. One-third of these are visits to behavioral health specialists.
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Telemedicine amid the pandemic can help reduce a person’s contact with healthcare facilities and their risk of COVID-19. It can also help reduce staff exposure.
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Learn more about the latest news and developments on COVID-19. Uses during the pandemic
Below are potential uses of telemedicine during the pandemic:triaging and screening for COVID-19 symptomscontact tracingmonitoring symptoms and people recovering from COVID-19specialized COVID care for hospitalized individuals with COVID-19
This helps with:faster testingincreasing the number of people healthcare workers can monitor at oncefreeing up hospital bedspreventing the emergency rooms from becoming overwhelmed
Uses beyond the pandemic
Beyond this, doctors can use telemedicine for many other purposes, including:general healthcare, such as wellness visits and blood pressure controlnonemergency follow-upsmental health counselingnutrition counselingprescription for medicationsphysical therapy exercisetele-intensive care
Experts also telemedicine used differently in various fields of medicine, such as:Telestroke: Experts use telemedicine in emergency departments for neurologists to communicate remotely with emergency doctors, reducing the need for in-house neurologists.
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This helps deal with the shortage of neurologists in many hospitals.Teleradiology: Practitioners send images and reports from in-person or telemedicine exams to a remote radiologist, who then sends their report to the physician or another healthcare professional.Telepsychiatry: Direct interaction between a person and a psychiatrist through telephone or video conferencing. Benefits of telemedicine
Telemedicine has several benefits for the people and the medical professionals involved. Comfort and convenience
With telemedicine, people can access care in the comfort and privacy of their own homes.
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This reduces the need to travel, arrange for child care, and leave work. It cuts off waiting time and allows people to arrange their consultations around their busy schedules. A 2019 study found that telemedicine saves people and their families attending a pediatric neurosurgery telemedicine clinic substantial:travel timecosttime away from work
Increased access to care from a distance
Telemedicine helps make healthcare accessible, especially for people living in rural areas.
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A 2020 study found that telemedicine provides some of the population access to care without potential:stigmamarginalizationdiscrimination
Cost-effective option
Telemedicine consultations may be more affordable than in-person doctor visits and admission to the emergency rooms. A 2020 review found that there was a reduction in health costs by 56% and travel costs by 94% when doctors used telemedicine in the following settings:intensive care unit (ICU) roomspediatricsdermatologyradiology
Family support
Telemedicine allows family members and caregivers to join in the consultation, ask questions, and provide information to contribute to their family member’s care.
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Prevention of chronic diseases
A 2021 review found that telemedicine helps provide timely delivery of preventive care to people with cardiovascular diseases. This helps prevent acute events and the progression of these diseases.
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Controls the transmission of illnesses
Scheduling appointments and creating more efficient clinic workflows lessen people’s exposure to others who may be ill. It also helps prevent and slow the transmission of COVID-19 and other viruses such as flu. Contextualized assessments
Telemedicine helps healthcare professionals like occupational and physical therapists observe a person in their natural environment.
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This allows them to perform more thorough evaluations of the person’s abilities to move around and interact with their environment. Read more about the benefits of telemedicine. Possible drawbacks
Some of the common disadvantages of telemedicine include:technological glitches when using devicesinability to physically examine peoplelack of patient-doctor rapport and trust lack of access to the necessary infrastructure, such as high-speed internetdiagnosis hindrance due to the poor quality camera, images, or lightingchallenges in ensuring electronic health records remain protectedlack of clarity on malpractice and liability concernsMedicaid and private payers have inconsistent policies on reimbursementsMedicare only covers people in some rural regionsindividuals should meet with practitioners licensed in the state where they are in at the time of the visit
Learn more about medical malpractice.
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How to overcome drawbacks
Individuals can help overcome glitches by checking their internet connection and ensuring devices work ahead of appointments. If possible, a clinic or hospital staff receives training to help people with technical difficulties.
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A person may use a platform that keeps track of their expenses and documents receipts required by their payers. They should also keep up to date with their insurer’s allowable reimbursements. Clinics and hospitals must have a robust electronic health record (EHR) system to ensure data privacy and security.
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Doctors and patients should also ensure that they have a secure network connection and that the mode of delivery is easy to understand. More importantly, since doctors rely on a person’s report, they must ask more questions to gain a more comprehensive medical history of their patient. Practitioners need to be aware of their state’s regulations since most regulations on telemedicine vary across states.
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Telemedicine vs telehealth
Telemedicine focuses on remote clinical services provided by doctors. In contrast, telehealth is a broad term that covers remote clinical and nonclinical services provided by health professionals other than doctors.
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Telemedicine covers include all communication within the doctor-patient relationship, including:diagnostic testingdiscussing medical historymonitoring
Meanwhile, telehealth includes various remote healthcare services beyond those a doctor offers. Clinical services include:remote interpretation of diagnostic testsspecialist review of records for expert opinionconsultation with a nutritionist or physical therapist
Nonclinical services include:provider trainingadministrative meetingscontinuing medical education
Frequently asked questions
Below are some common questions and answers on telemedicine. Who can practice it
Licensed physicians can deliver telemedicine to people.
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Some states require that people and their doctors are in the same state. However, due to the pandemic, some rules have loosened — platforms with real-time interaction require that the physician is licensed at the patient’s current location, but they do not have to be in the same state.
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What companies
Many companies offer telemedicine. Some of these are:Sesame CareMeMDHealthTapAmwellMDLive
What are the costs involved
The costs vary on the telemedicine provider, the specialization of the doctor, and whether it is an evaluation or a follow-up visit. On average, a single visit costs $79.
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This is significantly cheaper than a doctor’s visit, which costs $146, or an emergency visit which costs $1,734. Who can use telemedicine
Anyone seeking medical treatment can use telemedicine. This may especially benefit those who are:living in a remote or rural locationpart of the vulnerable populationhomebound and bedboundrestricted by tight schedules
Telemedicine jobs and how to apply
There are many careers in telemedicine, including:clinical practitionersvirtual physician assistantsrecords data entry specialistsother technical support staff
There are many job posts in different telemedicine companies.
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Summary
Telemedicine bridges the exchange of medical information between the doctor and the patient through technology. The service ranges from email to sharing relevant information and test results to robotic-assisted interventions.
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Telemedicine offers a range of benefits, including comfort, convenience, savings, more contextualized assessments, and the involvement of family members in a person’s care. However, it has drawbacks, including compliance and liability concerns and technological glitches.
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Those who want to opt for this mode of care may ask their practitioners if they provide telemedicine. A person may also consider different telemedicine companies with practitioners licensed to treat in their location.
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Last medically reviewed on September 29, 2022Medical InnovationPublic HealthHealth Insurance / Medical InsuranceLitigation / Medical MalpracticeMedical Devices / DiagnosticsMedical Practice ManagementMedicare / Medicaid / SCHIPPrimary Care 17 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references.
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We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Ashwood, J.
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S., et al. (2017). Direct-to-consumer telehealth may increase access to care but does not decrease spending. https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2016.1130Atmojo, J. T., et al. (2020).
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Telemedicine, cost effectiveness, and patients satisfaction: A systematic review. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3311/e35b1ef971d7f2906871aa84e812638e1536.pdfBattineni, G., et al. (2021). The benefits of telemedicine in personalized prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD): A systematic review.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/11/7/658Department of Health & Human Services.
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(2021). New HHS study shows 63-fold increase in Medicare telehealth utilization during the pandemic [Press release]. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/12/03/new-hhs-study-shows-63-fold-increase-in-medicare-telehealth-utilization-during-pandemic.htmlFact sheet: Telehealth.
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(n.d.). https://www.aha.org/factsheet/telehealthFrequently asked questions. (n.d.).https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-telehealth-how-telehealth-different-telemedicineHamnvik, O-P.
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R., et al. (2022). Telemedicine and inequities in health care access: The example of transgender health.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/trgh.2020.0122Hayward, K., et al. (2019).
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Socioeconomic patient benefits of a pediatric neurosurgery telemedicine clinic.https://thejns.org/pediatrics/view/journals/j-neurosurg-pediatr/25/2/article-p204.xmlHyder, M. A., et al. (2020).
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Telemedicine in the United States: An introduction for students and residents.https://www.jmir.org/2020/11/e20839/Maese, J. R., et al. (2020).
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Perspective: What a difference a disaster makes: The telehealth revolution in the age of COVID-19 pandemic.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1062860620933587Mills, E., et al. (2020). Telemedicine and the COVID-19 pandemic: Are we ready to go live?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7342801/Overcoming challenges faced by telehealth adoption.
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(2021).https://www.elsevier.com/connect/healthcare-professionals/overcoming-challenges-faced-by-telehealth-adoptionTelehealth and telemedicine during COVID-19 in low resource non-U.S. settings.
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(2022).https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/global-covid-19/telehealth-covid19-nonUS.htmlTelehealth, telemedicine, and telecare: What's what? (n.d.).https://www.fcc.gov/general/telehealth-telemedicine-and-telecare-whats-whatVidal-Alball, J., et al. (2020).
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Telemedicine in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7164871/What Is telehealth? (2018).https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.18.0268What's the difference between telemedicine and telehealth? (n.d.).https://www.aafp.org/news/media-center/kits/telemedicine-and-telehealth.htmlFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD — By Rachel Ann Tee-Melegrito on September 29, 2022
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Telehealth enables people to access certain healthcare needs from home.
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