Vincent Li, Class of 2022
It has been over a year since the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), appeared in an index case in Wuhan, China. For the United States, in particular, almost 11 months have passed since the initial case of COVID-19 was recorded on January 20, 2020, in Washington state (Harcourt et al. 2020). As of December 5, 2020, the number of confirmed cases has increased precipitously up to 66,322,262 cases globally, with the U.S. making up approximately 22% of them (14,502,143) per Johns Hopkins CSSE COVID-19 Dashboard (JHU CSSE 2020). Healthcare facilities are beginning to run out of space as the U.S. braces itself for the inevitable wave of increasing positive cases and subsequent hospitalizations. As a result, many who suffer from chronic illnesses or require a time-sensitive operation find themselves weighing the benefits and risks of checking into these hospitals during a time of high alert. This precarious situation has forced those with their health compromised to remain at home, postponing surgeries, routine checkups, or picking up medications.
In response to these circumstances, more and more Americans are forgoing in-person appointments for telehealth visits. Telehealth refers to the usage of virtual mediums that permit interactions between patients and physicians to occur without having to meet in-person (Becker 2020). Although telehealth is often interchangeable with telemedicine, the former is more general and is applicable to non-clinical services that may be provided, whereas telemedicine focuses primarily on clinical services and care (AAFP [date unknown]). The former could include health education, whereas the former would entail prescribing medicine, checking physical health fitness, or addressing less debilitating illnesses like fevers, colds, etc. (CDC 2019). The concept is not novel and has been in place since the 20th century (Becker 2020). In lieu of video conferencing software and dedicated telecommunications systems, the earliest forms of telehealth were brought about with just telephones. Though the process isn’t necessarily new, the possibilities of providing care have expanded with advancements in technology: wireless devices can help ascertain physical health data and allow for easy collaboration between providers (Becker 2020). Telehealth can be employed when seeking diagnosis for common medical issues, routine check-ups for those burdened with chronic illnesses, and convenient assistance during periods of time where non-emergency care is unavailable (e.g. holidays) (eVisit [date unknown]). Moreover, remote medical care is especially pertinent for those who live in remote access areas where there is a lack of specialists, or if the patient is immunocompromised and is limiting potential exposure to infectious maladies such as COVID-19.
Given the current pandemic and the subsequent social limitations (e.g. stay-at-home orders and enforced curfews) to mitigate its spread, telehealth’s ability to remotely communicate and treat patients is imperative for maintaining safety while preserving a high standard of care. This facet of the medical industry has not gone unnoticed, however. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, once a public health emergency for COVID-19 was called into action, Medicare primary care visits in-person fell in March (HHS 2020). More significantly, the proportion of Medicare primary visits utilizing telehealth methods increased from 0.1% in February 2020 to 43.5% by April 2020 (HHS 2020). This dramatic increase is associated with the downstream consequences of the emergency health declaration in March, which prevented geographic location from precluding access to certain teleservices depending on area of residence on behalf of the patient (HHS 2020). The federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also authorized a wider range of medical practitioners to be able to provide telemedical care, also (HHS 2020). While there is a general uptrend in the usage of telehealth services across the United States, its utilization seems skewed towards urban areas with higher densities and rates of COVID-19 (HHS 2020).
According to a CDC report on the trends in telehealth usage during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 154% increase in telehealth visits during March’s last month, along with a decrease in emergency department visits of approximately 30% by that same point in time (CDC 2019). Though most of the visits primarily pertained to non-COVID-19 concerns and symptoms, there was also an upward trend in COVID-19 related telehealth visits towards the end of March 2020 (CDC 2019).
The current pandemic has resulted in an enormous loss of life, untold downstream economic consequences, and decreased quality of life for countless numbers of infected survivors. There is little doubt that the pervasive concerns of catching the disease has caused many to avoid seeking potentially life-saving or life-extending care. According to the CDC’s report, approximately 41-42% of surveyed U.S. adults were dissuaded from seeking non-COVID related medical treatment due to fears over the virus (Koonin et al. 2020). But with telehealth services, those who share these concerns can then get access to the care needed, thereby mitigating the health-related burdens generated by the pandemic.
COVID-19 has undoubtedly warped the fabric of social interactions, and the habits picked up (e.g. mask wearing, increased health conscientiousness, etc.) are likely here to stay. In times where unmindful social interactions without masks and similar precautions could spell a potentially lethal disease, telehealth and telemedicine has seen a significant increase in its clientele. Not only is it capable of providing some aspects of medical care without jeopardizing the health of immunocompromised patients, but it provides greater convenience to those with unaccommodating schedules and limited access to specialist care within their area. Once COVID-19 ends, it may be in the United States’ best interest to continue developing this field of medicine. As the technological means to assess patient health becomes more advanced and capable in remote scenarios, telehealth may find itself not a novel means of keeping healthy, but a well-known and reasonable alternative for all to use.
References:
Becker K. The best telemedicine services for anyone unable to visit a doctor's office in person. Insider. 2020 Nov 11 [accessed 2020 Dec 12]. https://www.insider.com/best-telemedicine-services
CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019 Jul 31 [accessed 2020 Dec 12]. https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/anthologies/anthologies-telehealth.html
COVID-19 Map. Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. [accessed 2020 Dec 12]. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
Harcourt J, Tamin A, Lu X, Kamili S, Sakthivel S, Murray J. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 from Patient with Coronavirus Disease, United States - Volume 26, Number 6-June 2020 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020 Jun [accessed 2020 Dec 12].
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/6/20-0516_article
How Does Telemedicine Work? Use of Telemedicine & Telehealth. eVisit. 2019 Dec 9 [accessed 2020 Dec 12]. https://evisit.com/resources/how-does-telemedicine-work/
stethoscope, mobile phone, diagnosis, pulse, cardiology, medicine, healthcare. https://pixnio.com/science/medical-science/stethoscope-mobile-phone-diagnosis-pulse-c ardiology-medicine-healthcare
Trends in the Use of Telehealth During the Emergence of the COVID-19 Pandemic - United States, January–March 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020 Oct 30 [accessed 2020 Dec 12]. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6943a3.htm
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HHS Issues New Report Highlighting Dramatic Trends in Medicare Beneficiary Telehealth Utilization amid COVID-19. HHS.gov. 2020 Jul 28 [accessed 2020 Dec 12].
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/07/28/hhs-issues-new-report-highlighting-dramatic
-trends-in-medicare-beneficiary-telehealth-utilization-amid-covid-19.html
What's the difference between telemedicine and telehealth? AAFP Home. [accessed 2020 Dec 12]. https://www.aafp.org/news/media-center/kits/telemedicine-and-telehealth.html
In response to these circumstances, more and more Americans are forgoing in-person appointments for telehealth visits. Telehealth refers to the usage of virtual mediums that permit interactions between patients and physicians to occur without having to meet in-person (Becker 2020). Although telehealth is often interchangeable with telemedicine, the former is more general and is applicable to non-clinical services that may be provided, whereas telemedicine focuses primarily on clinical services and care (AAFP [date unknown]). The former could include health education, whereas the former would entail prescribing medicine, checking physical health fitness, or addressing less debilitating illnesses like fevers, colds, etc. (CDC 2019). The concept is not novel and has been in place since the 20th century (Becker 2020). In lieu of video conferencing software and dedicated telecommunications systems, the earliest forms of telehealth were brought about with just telephones. Though the process isn’t necessarily new, the possibilities of providing care have expanded with advancements in technology: wireless devices can help ascertain physical health data and allow for easy collaboration between providers (Becker 2020). Telehealth can be employed when seeking diagnosis for common medical issues, routine check-ups for those burdened with chronic illnesses, and convenient assistance during periods of time where non-emergency care is unavailable (e.g. holidays) (eVisit [date unknown]). Moreover, remote medical care is especially pertinent for those who live in remote access areas where there is a lack of specialists, or if the patient is immunocompromised and is limiting potential exposure to infectious maladies such as COVID-19.
Given the current pandemic and the subsequent social limitations (e.g. stay-at-home orders and enforced curfews) to mitigate its spread, telehealth’s ability to remotely communicate and treat patients is imperative for maintaining safety while preserving a high standard of care. This facet of the medical industry has not gone unnoticed, however. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, once a public health emergency for COVID-19 was called into action, Medicare primary care visits in-person fell in March (HHS 2020). More significantly, the proportion of Medicare primary visits utilizing telehealth methods increased from 0.1% in February 2020 to 43.5% by April 2020 (HHS 2020). This dramatic increase is associated with the downstream consequences of the emergency health declaration in March, which prevented geographic location from precluding access to certain teleservices depending on area of residence on behalf of the patient (HHS 2020). The federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also authorized a wider range of medical practitioners to be able to provide telemedical care, also (HHS 2020). While there is a general uptrend in the usage of telehealth services across the United States, its utilization seems skewed towards urban areas with higher densities and rates of COVID-19 (HHS 2020).
According to a CDC report on the trends in telehealth usage during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 154% increase in telehealth visits during March’s last month, along with a decrease in emergency department visits of approximately 30% by that same point in time (CDC 2019). Though most of the visits primarily pertained to non-COVID-19 concerns and symptoms, there was also an upward trend in COVID-19 related telehealth visits towards the end of March 2020 (CDC 2019).
The current pandemic has resulted in an enormous loss of life, untold downstream economic consequences, and decreased quality of life for countless numbers of infected survivors. There is little doubt that the pervasive concerns of catching the disease has caused many to avoid seeking potentially life-saving or life-extending care. According to the CDC’s report, approximately 41-42% of surveyed U.S. adults were dissuaded from seeking non-COVID related medical treatment due to fears over the virus (Koonin et al. 2020). But with telehealth services, those who share these concerns can then get access to the care needed, thereby mitigating the health-related burdens generated by the pandemic.
COVID-19 has undoubtedly warped the fabric of social interactions, and the habits picked up (e.g. mask wearing, increased health conscientiousness, etc.) are likely here to stay. In times where unmindful social interactions without masks and similar precautions could spell a potentially lethal disease, telehealth and telemedicine has seen a significant increase in its clientele. Not only is it capable of providing some aspects of medical care without jeopardizing the health of immunocompromised patients, but it provides greater convenience to those with unaccommodating schedules and limited access to specialist care within their area. Once COVID-19 ends, it may be in the United States’ best interest to continue developing this field of medicine. As the technological means to assess patient health becomes more advanced and capable in remote scenarios, telehealth may find itself not a novel means of keeping healthy, but a well-known and reasonable alternative for all to use.
References:
Becker K. The best telemedicine services for anyone unable to visit a doctor's office in person. Insider. 2020 Nov 11 [accessed 2020 Dec 12]. https://www.insider.com/best-telemedicine-services
CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019 Jul 31 [accessed 2020 Dec 12]. https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/anthologies/anthologies-telehealth.html
COVID-19 Map. Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. [accessed 2020 Dec 12]. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
Harcourt J, Tamin A, Lu X, Kamili S, Sakthivel S, Murray J. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 from Patient with Coronavirus Disease, United States - Volume 26, Number 6-June 2020 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020 Jun [accessed 2020 Dec 12].
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/6/20-0516_article
How Does Telemedicine Work? Use of Telemedicine & Telehealth. eVisit. 2019 Dec 9 [accessed 2020 Dec 12]. https://evisit.com/resources/how-does-telemedicine-work/
stethoscope, mobile phone, diagnosis, pulse, cardiology, medicine, healthcare. https://pixnio.com/science/medical-science/stethoscope-mobile-phone-diagnosis-pulse-c ardiology-medicine-healthcare
Trends in the Use of Telehealth During the Emergence of the COVID-19 Pandemic - United States, January–March 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020 Oct 30 [accessed 2020 Dec 12]. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6943a3.htm
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HHS Issues New Report Highlighting Dramatic Trends in Medicare Beneficiary Telehealth Utilization amid COVID-19. HHS.gov. 2020 Jul 28 [accessed 2020 Dec 12].
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/07/28/hhs-issues-new-report-highlighting-dramatic
-trends-in-medicare-beneficiary-telehealth-utilization-amid-covid-19.html
What's the difference between telemedicine and telehealth? AAFP Home. [accessed 2020 Dec 12]. https://www.aafp.org/news/media-center/kits/telemedicine-and-telehealth.html
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