Pros and Cons of Telehealth

Pros:

  1. Telehealth visits are cost-efficient; saves time and money for both doctors and patients.
  2. More and more details about the patients can be recorded in the IT systems which leads to better decision making.
  3. Reduces the risks of infections for the doctors and also for the patients.
  4. Telehealth visits are secure using a HIPAA compliant system.
  5. Patients can involve in other tasks while waiting in the waiting room area of a Telehealth system.
  6. Doctor and patient can virtually meet from anywhere in  the world, not location dependency.
  1. Doctors generate more revenue as it cuts in commuting time and many other expenses.
  2. Follow-up visits are easier.
  3. Doctors can visit patients at home that is a great option for patients with disabilities.
  4. Doctors can share data easily with other doctors.
  5. A panel of doctors can meet the same patient at a time if required.

Cons:

  1. Some patients may not feel the experience and satisfaction that is achieved with a real face-to-face physical visit.
  2. It may limit some assessments and examinations.
  3. Old patients may not feel good when using a Smartphone or computer.
  4. It may take time for some patients to learn to use technology.
  5. Some problems need real face-to-face visits so it will not always a good option for every type of patient.
  6. Insurers covering Telehealth are limited which is expected to increase in the future.
  7. Both parties may feel unsatisfactory if there is an internet, audio, camera, or any other technical issue from any side.