Telemedicine

This is a summary of the peer-reviewed article: Exploring the benefits and limitations of using telemedicine in unscheduled care by Kirsty Limeria Thomson et al

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The article reports the findings of a literature review that examined the benefits and limitations of using telemedicine in an unscheduled care environment.

Key findings

Cost-effectiveness – telemedicine can reduce travel costs for patients, particularly those living in rural areas. It can also be cost-effective for healthcare providers, by reducing the need for in-person consultations and using existing technology to deliver virtual services. Despite these advantages, some studies highlighted concerns about initial and ongoing costs of implementing telemedicine.

Hospital transfers and admissions – telemedicine can reduce unnecessary hospital transfers by enabling healthcare professionals to provide immediate care and advice remotely, thus preventing unnecessary emergency department visits and hospital admissions. However, the time taken to consult via telemedicine could delay urgent hospital transfers, potentially compromising patient care.

Engagement – technical issues, such as poor internet connectivity and issues with devices, were common barriers to the effective use of telemedicine. Younger patients generally preferred telemedicine, while older patients showed varying levels of comfort with using the technology. While telemedicine may enhance communication between patients and healthcare providers, some feel it is less personal than face-to-face interactions.

Recommendations

The authors make three suggestions:

• Investment in more reliable telemedicine systems to address technical barriers and improve the quality of virtual care.
• Further research to explore the effects of the absence of physical examinations on patient safety and care outcomes.
• Broader implementation of telemedicine in unscheduled care to help to reduce hospital transfers and admissions, and improve cost-effectiveness.

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