Telemedicine

Telehealth for general PHC concerns achieved problem resolution rates of 85%, diagnostic concordance of 74%, and treatment concordance of 80% compared with in-person care. A model connecting rural patients to specialists via telehealth facilitated by local PHC nurses produced significant improvements in anxiety, depression, and medication adherence. Telehealth functioned as a tool for building relationships with patients who would otherwise avoid in-person care. Remote consultations and diagnosis may help bridge gaps between patients and providers during disasters. Telehealth concordance with in-person care was highest for hypertension treatment at 95% and diabetes management at 93%. Patients considered telehealth less suited to physical health assessments, wellness consultations, and new health problems. The study recommended introducing telemedicine for basic emergency care, remote consultation, diagnosis, and awareness. In-person care remains relevant for procedures, IVs, regenerative medicine, acute problems, and physical examinations. Practitioners identified information-gathering limitations in teleconferencing compared with in-person consultations, including the risk of mis…