The Potential Role of the Physical Environment in Telehealth: A Patient-Centered Care Perspective

BackgroundThe delivery of preventive and primary care has evolved through various physical environments, from early twentieth-century house calls to centralized settings like physician offices and hospitals, and more recently, through rapid adoption of telehealth. This shift occurred amidst an increasing emphasis on patient/person-centered care models.AimThis article conceptually examines the role of the physical environment in optimizing patient/person-centered care within telehealth, focusing on preventive and primary care in the pre-acute stages.MethodA rapid scoping review was conducted to identify key underlying dimensions of patient/person-centered care. Each dimension was further examined to identify theoretical background and measurement instruments used in the field, to obtain a detailed comprehension of the concepts. A series of brainstorming sessions among contributing authors, in association with logical theory-supported arguments, were conducted to articulate conceptual associations and detect the potential role of the physical environment.ResultAn articulation of the relationships between six underlying dimensions of patient/person-centered care is proposed: Shared Decision-Making, Autonomy, Communication, Empathy, Trust, and Privacy. Furthermore, the potential role of the physical environment in the pathway to patient outcomes is posited. Conclusions: Physical separation of providers and patients may present challenges to achieving optimal performance in key dimensions of patient/person-centered care. The physical environment of telehealth care has a potential role to play in care optimization.