Telemedicine is here to stay--and not just for the doctors

This pandemic will change how patients think about interacting with their doctor and health system across each step in their care journey, including how they pay for that care.

Telehealth has surged in adoption through the Coronavirus pandemic. However, it’s interesting the technology isn’t new: platforms for digital visits have existed for decades, originally deployed to help hospitals reach patients who lived in remote or rural locations. In recent years, advances in smart phones and videoconferencing have allowed a greater level of engagement between patient and doctor. But faced with potential regulatory and privacy concerns (not to mention billing issues), telehealth adoption was low in the pre-COVID 19 world. That all changed a few weeks ago – and there’s no going back.

COVID-19 strained the capacity of hospitals across the country, particularly in the big systems in New York City. At the same time, social distancing guidelines made it much harder for people to visit the doctor. Offering a convenient, easy-to-use alternative, telemedicine stepped into the fray, bolstered by $200 million of federal funding, with the number of patients talking to their doctor via video conference setting records.