Video Telemedicine Experiences In COVID-19 Were Positive, But Physicians And Patients Prefer In-Person Care For The
Gillian K SteelFisher1, Caitlin L McMurtry2, Hannah Caporello3
1Gillian K. SteelFisher (gsteel@hsph.harvard.edu), Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts.
Health Affairs (Project Hope)
|April 3, 2023
Summary
Most physicians and patients prefer less telemedicine post-pandemic, citing quality concerns and the lack of physical exams. Future virtual primary care may be limited without policy interventions.
Area of Science:
- Health Policy
- Telemedicine
- Primary Care
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine.
- Policy discussions regarding postpandemic telemedicine reimbursement and regulations are ongoing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To inform policy discussions on telemedicine reimbursement and regulations.
- To assess physician and patient preferences for future telemedicine use.
Main Methods:
- Dual nationally representative surveys of primary care physicians and patients.
- Analysis of satisfaction, future preferences, and perceived quality of telemedicine.
Main Results:
- Majorities of physicians (80%) and patients (64%) prefer limited future telemedicine use.
- Physicians (60%) and patients (90-92%) cited inferior quality and lack of physical exam as key concerns.
- Older, less educated, and Asian patients were less likely to prefer future video care.
Conclusions:
- Virtual primary care is likely to be limited in the immediate future.
- Improvements in home-based diagnostic tools could enhance telemedicine quality and adoption.
- Policies addressing quality, sustainability, and equity are needed for virtual care.
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