Physician Perspectives on Using Telehealth with Older Adults
摘要
Since the onset of the COVID-19COVID-19 pandemicPandemic in March 2020, hospitals and medical offices had to quickly pivot from traditional in-person care to telehealthTelehealth services. However, these medical institutions and private practices sometimes faced challenges digitally connecting with older adultsOlder adults because of age-related differences that can make technology use difficult, such as changes in vision, hearing, cognition, and dexterity. PhysiciansPhysician have shared different suggestions for best practices when using telehealthTelehealth with the older adult population, as well as lessons learned surrounding adopting new technology workflows in health care that can be applied during future pandemicsPandemic. This chapter will discuss the findings from a qualitative research study with 48 physiciansPhysician who used telehealthTelehealth with older adultsOlder adults during the COVID-19COVID-19 pandemicPandemic. First, we will broadly explain the importance of focusing on telehealthTelehealth use within the older adult population. Next, we will explore how physicianPhysician perspectives in the qualitative study differed depending on their specialty. Facilitators and barriers to telehealthTelehealth use in older adultsOlder adults varied depending on whether the specialty was procedural, and whether physiciansPhysician specialized in treating acute complaints or mostly managed minor or chronic health conditions. Finally, we will describe the key lessons learned that can be applied to future pandemics as needed.