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Healthcare Technology: Telehealth

Telehealth has increasingly become a popular method to access healthcare services
between healthcare providers and patients. Healthcare experts view it as a cost-effective
alternative to old-fashioned sporadic face-to-face encounters. Combining telehealth with other
information technologies, such as electronic health records, causes transformational changes in
healthcare services through altered interaction between providers and patients.

Impact of Telehealth Technology

Telehealth plays a crucial role in easing the impact of the nursing shortage by providing
easier access to healthcare professionals for patients (Gajarawala & Pelkowski, 2021). It enables
nurses to focus on patient satisfaction and care without the traditional on-site appointment red
tape, hence improving efficiency better. This technology has incredibly supported my healthcare
decision-making (Gajarawala & Pelkowski, 2021). Through expansion, telehealth has enhanced
my patients’ role in shared decision-making. Notably, this process accentuates communication of
risks by the healthcare provider and clarifies the patient’s values.
Evolution of Telehealth Technology

Telehealth technology first started as a form of healthcare delivery during the late 1960s
because of the Nebraska Psychology and Institute’s and National Aeronautics and Space
Administration’s (NASA) needs (Terrell et al., 2021). Since then, telehealth technology such as
mobile computing carts in healthcare organizations has enabled physicians and other healthcare
experts to engage their patients under their care better, enabling patients to access the needed
healthcare services from anywhere. Telehealth can provide numerous future healthcare benefits,
such as improving access to care, public health, relieving pressure on the healthcare workforce,
and reducing financial stress (Terrell et al., 2021). The virtual access to clinical decision support

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system (CDSS) through telehealth services has enabled clinicians and other healthcare experts to
reinstate multifaceted disease care for patients. It is crucial for addressing mutual concerns about
virus exposure.
Conclusively, telehealth is crucial for overcoming barriers patients face when seeking
healthcare, particularly time and distance. This technology has affected my decision-making by
allowing me to exchange crucial information regarding my patients’ history, previous tests and
considering their concerns under a shared care model for diagnosis and treatment.

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References

Gajarawala, S. N., & Pelkowski, J. N. (2021). Telehealth benefits and barriers. The Journal for
Nurse Practitioners, 17(2), 218-221.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7577680/pdf/main.pdf
Terrell, E. A., Aftab, S., Babitz, A., Butler, L., Hernandez, N. G., Hornik, B., … & Thomas, J.
(2021). The Evolution of Telehealth From Pre-COVID-19 Pandemic Through A Hybrid
Virtual Care Delivery Model: A Pediatric Hospital’s Journey. International Journal of
Telerehabilitation, 13(2). https://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/Telerehab/article/view/6432/6992