The Advantages of Telehealth in Clinical Medicine
摘要
This chapter examines telehealth, or the virtual delivery of healthcare, highlighting its benefits, limitations, and implications for equitable, high-quality care integration into modern healthcare systems. In recent years, telehealth has seen exponential growth, with COVID-19 being a major turning point in its use and acceptance. Patients and clinicians alike have benefited from the option of remote care, seeing better affordability and increased access. Telehealth allows patients in rural or underserved regions as well as those with mobility or transportation barriers to access specialists and physicians who would otherwise be out of reach. For those with chronic conditions or mental health concerns, telehealth can make management and follow-up markedly easier, and these patients have similar outcomes to those receiving in-person care. Despite telehealth’s recent growth, there are still some drawbacks. Elderly, low-income, and rural populations, despite having better access to healthcare via telehealth, may struggle due to unreliable or difficult-to-use technology. The future of telehealth depends on how well it is integrated with in-person care, the ethics behind its use, and ensuring that all populations receive equitable and high-quality care.