Doctor, Doctor! Can You See Me Now? - The Rise of Telemedicine in Healthcare
As healthcare leaders, we have a duty to make healthcare more accessible and convenient for patients. The integration of telemedicine into traditional care delivery is one of the most significant advancements in recent years. Telemedicine allows patients to receive care remotely via video or audio calls, which makes it easier for patients to access care from the comfort of their own homes.
Telemedicine became even more crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it allowed patients to receive care without risking exposure to the virus. However, it is essential to note that telemedicine should not replace in-person visits but rather complement traditional care, improving patient outcomes and experiences while supporting continuity of care.
According to Rock Health's 2022 Digital Health Consumer Adoption Survey, 80% of respondents have accessed care via telemedicine at some point in their lives. Audio-only and asynchronous telemedicine surpassed point-to-point video chats as the most-used modalities. Telemedicine use increased slightly year-over-year among transgender respondents, with 98% reporting having used telemedicine, suggesting that nearly all transgender respondents have used telemedicine at some point in their healthcare journeys.
We must prioritize creating more accessible, affordable, and trustworthy telemedicine offerings for both providers and consumers. This requires a sustained commitment to high-quality, responsible care delivery, and a balanced approach to incorporating telemedicine into traditional care. The increase in telemedicine adoption is likely bolstered by supply-side and demand-side dynamics. Provider organizations see telemedicine visits as a means to improve appointment efficiency, elevate professional satisfaction, and expand patient reach.
Although it’s exciting to see telemedicine become the preferred modality for lower-acuity health engagements like minor illness visits and prescription refills, digital health innovators must balance virtual convenience with a sustained commitment to high-quality, responsible care delivery. As digital health recovers from scrutiny around low-quality telehealth experiences and virtual over-prescribing of controlled substances, sector players will need to be especially mindful of best practices when capitalizing on telehealth’s momentum.
In the Middle East, we have also seen significant advancements in telemedicine adoption. In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has utilized telemedicine as one of the primary tools for delivering healthcare services, including the ability for clinicians to offer prescriptions over telemedicine. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has also taken steps to promote telemedicine adoption by providing licenses to stand-alone telemedicine service providers.
The accessibility of telemedicine benefits not only patients but also employers, particularly the new joiner young population. One-third of millennials and 41% of Generation Z prefer digital encounters with physicians over in-person visits. Roughly half of employees used virtual health services in 2020, up from 17% in 2019, indicating significant room for growth. Technology-enabled solutions that allow employees to engage with care on-demand through their phones are gaining popularity, particularly text-based modalities. They have the potential to reduce unconscious bias and health disparities found in traditional care settings and video-based telehealth.
We must continue to embrace telemedicine and its potential to improve patient access and outcomes. Telemedicine services will continue to be a critical component of healthcare services, and patients should have the choice to use them as an alternative to traditional in-person visits. By prioritizing the use of telemedicine alongside traditional care, we can continue to push the boundaries of healthcare innovation and improve the patient experience.