Will telemedicine survive after COVID-19?

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Digital Health
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Telemedicine adoption in Quebec faced persistent barriers over two decades.
• A university health center in Montreal aimed to improve telemedicine integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the implementation strategy for enhancing telemedicine use.
• To assess the impact of infrastructure, training, and technology on telemedicine adoption.
• To evaluate telemedicine's role before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Case study of a Montreal university health center's telemedicine strategy.
• Analysis of infrastructure deployment, continuous training programs, and technology utilization.
• Examination of telemedicine's evolution during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Results:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated telemedicine adoption by removing some barriers.
• Telemedicine use during the pandemic was primarily limited to remote consultations via phone or video.
• Pre-existing obstacles to comprehensive telemedicine integration remain.

Conclusions:

• Future telemedicine expansion hinges on addressing and removing existing barriers.
• Clear definitions distinguishing telemedicine from in-person care are crucial for quality assurance.
• Proposed strategies include cultural shifts, ongoing training, advanced technologies, and value-based healthcare models.