Telehealth has revolutionized healthcare across the globe, with patients having the opportunity to interact with their providers online using technology. The COVID-19 pandemic further hastened the uptake of telehealth with the introduction of regulations requiring social distancing and isolation for all. As a result, more people began to opt for telehealth as a safe and convenient option. Murphy & Swanson (2021) reported that a significant proportion of the older population in America used some form of telehealth solution during the pandemic and were satisfied with the services provided. However, the most significant areas of concern were privacy issues and the quality of care (Murphy & Swanson, 2021). Therefore, despite the benefits of telehealth during the pandemic period, the older population still has reservations about the suitability and efficacy of such technologies in the long run.
Several patients were concerned about the quality of care received using telehealth compared to on-site visits to a medical facility. The use of such technology in providing care varies in some cases since the practitioner may not have first-hand information on the patient’s issues and rely solely on their ability to describe symptoms accurately. As a result, misjudgments may lead to misdiagnoses that significantly impact patients’ health. Apart from that, the lack of personal relationships with doctors raised concerns for patients due to the lack of guaranteed confidentiality, with some patients worried that conversations may be overheard by unintended audiences (Murphy & Swanson, 2021). Such fears affect the long-term use of such technologies, with more people ultimately opting for traditional visits. Consequently, these challenges underpinned the adoption of telehealth among the older population in America during the pandemic.
Telehealth is a convenient technology that can assist patients and providers in interacting while achieving minimal contact required with social distancing requirements. I agree with some of the concerns of older patients with regard to privacy and quality of care. However, I still believe that such technological innovations are suitable for the future of healthcare across the globe. The confidentiality and privacy of patient information are guaranteed under the law. Hence providers have the duty to protect these rights. Any breach of such privacy is a punishable offense. Thus this should not be a significant concern. Apart from that, I believe that only minor cases should be subjected to telehealth since they may be relatively easy to explain. In cases where a patient may have severe symptoms requiring a physical check-up urgently, a visit to the doctor would be the best option since it would offer the physician a better opportunity to conduct required tests.
Telehealth grew in popularity as a healthcare solution during the pandemic, with a portion of the elderly population satisfied with the services provided. However, major areas of concern were issues of privacy and the quality of care provided using such technologies. The provision of care is perceived to vary in some cases since the practitioner may not have first-hand information on the exact issues faced by the patient. More so, concerns for patient privacy due to the fear of conversations being overheard by unintended audiences further created doubts in the minds of older patients. While these are viable issues raised by patients, telehealth provides a solution, especially at times of the pandemic, and can only get better going forward into the future of health information technology.
Reference
Murphy, T., & Swanson, E. (2021). Telehealth helps in pandemic, concerns linger: AP-NORC poll. ABC News. Web.