Telehealth: Enhancing Care through Technology

Abstract

The use of telehealth - the delivery of healthcare services through the use of two-way electronic audiovisual technology - has grown significantly in the U.S. in recent years. Telehealth offers patients and providers significant benefits as a lower cost, easier way to access quality care, but the medical community is still working to perfect the balance between technology and in-person care. This article covers the current national telehealth landscape, consumer perceptions of telehealth, as well as the steps Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) has taken to cover telehealth services for its members and implement a user-friendly mobile app to facilitate this type of care, as well as how it fits into their primary-care strategy. It discusses some existing applications for telehealth, as well as some ideal-state, practical ideas about the future of telehealth's use.

Keywords: healthcare access; healthcare costs; telehealth; telemedicine.