Telehealth Exploration: Concept, Applications, Advantages, and Further Insights
In the rapidly evolving world of healthcare, telemedicine has become a crucial tool for delivering clinical care at a distance. This digital approach to healthcare includes remote interpretation of diagnostic tests, specialist reviews, consultations with nutritionists or physical therapists, provider training, administrative meetings, and continuing medical education.
The use of telemedicine varies across different fields of medicine, such as telestroke, teleradiology, and telepsychiatry. However, challenges persist, including poor quality camera, images, or lighting that can hinder diagnosis, ensuring electronic health records remain protected, and maintaining patient-doctor rapport and trust.
As we move towards mid-2025, a significant regulatory change is on the horizon. Telemedicine providers in the United States must hold individual active medical licenses for every state where they deliver care. This is due to the fact that no single national or multi-state license fully replaces state-by-state licensure requirements. The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) may streamline the application process in participating states, but it does not eliminate the need for separate state licenses.
Key regulatory points and best practices include obtaining and maintaining valid licenses in all states where patients reside, monitoring and complying with state-specific telehealth laws, staying informed on legislative developments, particularly in states with significant telehealth legislative activity, and using the IMLC where applicable.
Telemedicine offers numerous benefits, including comfort and convenience, increased access to care from a distance, cost-effectiveness, family support, prevention of chronic diseases, and controlling the transmission of illnesses. Beyond the pandemic, telemedicine can be used for general healthcare, mental health counseling, nutrition counseling, prescription for medications, physical therapy exercises, tele-intensive care, and more.
Despite its advantages, telemedicine is not without its drawbacks. Lack of access to high-speed internet can hinder its use, and technological glitches can occur when using devices. Additionally, the costs of telemedicine visits vary based on the provider, specialization of the doctor, and whether it is an evaluation or a follow-up visit.
The first reference of telemedicine in a clinical setting was recorded in medical literature in the late 1950-1960s. Today, telemedicine is a method of delivering clinical care at a distance using electronic and telecommunication technology, offering comfort, convenience, savings, more contextualized assessments, and the involvement of family members in a person's care.
In the United States, currently, 76% of hospitals connect with people at a distance through video conferencing or other technology. As telemedicine continues to evolve, it is set to play a significant role in the future of healthcare, particularly for those living in remote or rural locations, part of the vulnerable population, homebound and bedbound, and those with tight schedules.
- As science and technology continue to progress, the role of telehealth in delivering health-and-wellness services is expected to expand beyond the realm of traditional health providers, potentially including administrative meetings and continuing medical education.
- With the increasing emphasis on telehealth, it's crucial for providers to stay updated on regulatory changes, such as the requirement for individual active medical licenses in all states where they deliver care in the United States, to maintain compliance and ensure seamless service for their clients.
