The massive pandemic-driven expansion of telehealth will have a consequential, enduring impact on the health care delivery system. Overall, telehealth has increased patients’ access to care, supplementing in-person visits for initial diagnosis and follow-up care. Provider reimbursement uncertainty and required investments into virtual care solutions have also impacted the consistency with which care is provided. However, according to a report from the National Institutes of Health, clinical advantages achieved using telehealth are unclear. In oncology care, patients and providers responded positively to telehealth during COVID-19, notwithstanding obstacles such as technology literacy, broadband availability, and other access problems.

Source: New York Times September 15, 2022 22:58 UTC