Abstract

This paper seeks to understand the use of telehealth technologies post COVID-19. For many years, academics have sought to provide evidence that the use of telehealth can have positive effects on patient outcomes, increase access to healthcare for populations, and to ensure a better use of resources
for all healthcare economies.

Although a number of trials and implementations on local, regional and national scales have found positive outcomes, healthcare providers have resisted the drive to greater telehealth adoption. This paper does not examine the history of telehealth in any great detail, but examines the use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The authors suggest that the increased use of telehealth is here to stay, and that health and care economies globally will need to adopt more telehealth solutions to continue to provide their services in a manner most appropriate for changing global populations.

As part of the study, the authors identify that technology programmes alone cannot lead to better telehealth implementation. They suggest that telehealth needs to ensure and support safe healthcare; that it must be effective; that patient centricity is important; that timeliness is a major factor; that telehealth can increase efficiency; that it reduces health inequalities; and that big, bold, visionary change is required.

The paper does not include any primary research but is based on examining the current academic and scientific evidence available.