Primary care
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This article discusses the use of telehealth in the role of pediatric health care. Management of common pediatric complaints and concerns are discussed in the context of a virtual setting. Benefits, as well as limitations and challenges, and the future of telehealth within the care of pediatric patient are reviewed.
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Asynchronous telehealth provides a viable option for improving access in a convenient and timely manner to patients seeking care as well as for physicians seeking subspecialty consultation. Access to technology, clear guidelines, standards, and expectations is required for this innovation to function well. ⋯ Positive impact on access and quality has been demonstrated. Rapid development continues and was enhanced with the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic.
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Telehealth is commonly used in the care of geriatric patients; however, it requires special considerations for effective implementation. Although available evidence suggests that this model of care is useful and feasible, interventions should be carefully designed with the unique needs of geriatric patients in mind. Further, more research is needed to determine the most effective telehealth interventions in this population, which will assist in determining cost-effectiveness and reimbursement policies.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for behavioral health care services. A substantial portion of mental health care transitioned to virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic, remains virtual today, and will continue that way in the future. Mental health needs continue to grow, and there has been growing evidence showing the efficacy of virtual health for behavioral health conditions at the system, provider, and patient level. There is also a growing understanding of the barriers and challenges to virtual behavioral health care.
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Telehealth programs existed in many subspecialities before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the public health event motivated many subspecialties to reflect on how current technologies could be leveraged to benefit patient outcomes and increase health-care access. This article reviews the history and current state of telehealth access in many areas of subspecialty care. Primary care physicians (PCPs) may be unaware of the telehealth services and options local subspecialists offer. To best serve patients, PCPs could partner with subspecialists to develop processes to link patients to the right subspecialist at the right time and in the right visit type.