Impact of Telehealth on Global Scale

Telehealth refers to the application of technology in healthcare service provision. Telehealth is mainly used to provide services remotely. The healthcare system is advancing, and there is a need to promote the adoption of Telehealth. This paper aims to discuss Telehealth’s impacts on a global scale and the possible associated barriers.

Impacts of Telehealth in Healthcare on a Global Scale

Several impacts of Telehealth have been witnessed globally. First and foremost, telehealth has enhanced healthcare access for the vulnerable population as services can be accessed remotely. This has benefited those from resource-limited settings in developing countries. Healthcare access is a key aspect of ensuring health equity across the world. Second, technology has improved global public health, improving the ability to respond to crises and pandemics (Bouabida, Lebouche & Pomey, 2022). This was evident during the COVID pandemic, where there was a global public campaign on how to prevent contracting COVID-19 and the campaign to take up COVID-19 vaccines to prevent serious effects that may be associated with COVID-19.

Furthermore, the emergency system was activated globally to report suspected COVID cases. Thirdly, Telehealth has also been helpful in storing and sharing information. Unlike in the old days when keeping track of medical records was challenging due to handwritten records, patient information can now be shared and accessed remotely, allowing for a seamless transition of care.

Barriers to Telehealth Practice

Even though Telehealth implementation has been successful and has proved effective, some places in the world face barriers to telehealth adoption. According to Gajarawala & Pelkowaki (2021), the barriers to Telehealth include the inability to carry out a comprehensive clinical examination, which plays a vital role in patient management. Secondly, there exist technical difficulties associated with the devices and the online system. For this reason, breakdowns may be experienced and affect health service provision. Lastly is the risk of security breaches and unauthorized access to patient information, which necessitates a security system that ensures the safety of the patient information.

Conclusion

In summary, the healthcare system is quickly advancing with the use of technology. The impact of Telehealth globally includes but is not limited to enhanced healthcare access, improved public health, and better health records storage. Some barriers to using Telehealth include technical difficulties, lack of regulatory bodies, and risk of security breaches.

References

Bouabida, K., Lebouché, B., & Pomey, M. P. (2022, November). Telehealth and COVID-19 pandemic: An overview of the telehealth use, advantages, challenges, and opportunities during COVID-19 pandemic. In Healthcare (Vol. 10, No. 11, p. 2293). MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/11/2293#

Gajarawala, S. N., & Pelkowski, J. N. (2021). Telehealth benefits and barriers. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(2), 218-221.https://doi.org/10.1016%

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Question

Discuss how telehealth can impact healthcare on a global scale. What are the barriers to this practice? Use evidence-based research to support your answer.