Telemedicine Surge Likely to Remain

According to this article from The Epoch Times, doctors, hospitals, and mental health providers across the country reported a 50- to 175-fold rise in the number of virtual visits. The COVID-19-fueled surge has tapered off as patients venture back to doctors’ offices. But medical professionals and health experts predict that when the pandemic is over, telehealth will still play a much larger role than before.

There are many studies that show patient satisfaction with telehealth is high, and the advantages of telemedicine are clear: You can typically get an appointment sooner, in the safety of your own home or workplace, saving time and money on gas and parking. In some cases, you can even avoid a loss in wages for missing work. Telemedicine also provides care for people in rural areas who live far from medical facilities.