Telemedicine-Based Virtual Stone Clinics for Renal Colic: Cost-Benefit Insights and Adoption Barriers

Telemedicine in urology has gained substantial attention, accelerating in adoption due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential to bridge significant gaps in healthcare access, particularly given that 62% of U.S. counties lack a urologist. This narrative review outlines its applications, cost benefits, and adoption barriers. Studies demonstrate high patient satisfaction, especially for postoperative consultations and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tracking. Virtual care is highly effective for managing conditions like nephrolithiasis and benign ureteric colic; one quality improvement study focusing on ureteric colic successfully avoided 71.1% of face-to-face follow-ups while maintaining high safety and patient satisfaction (93.1%). The financial advantages are significant, with virtual stone clinics reducing waiting times and saving patients an average of $147 to $186 per visit by minimizing travel costs and time away from work. Despite these benefits, widespread adoption faces hurdles. Key challenges include a lack of patient trust in virtual sessions compared to in-person care, particularly among minority groups. Furthermore, technological barriers, such as inadequate digital literacy and a lack of broadband access, disproportionately affect elderly and ethnic minority populations, which risks exacerbating existing health disparities. Telemedicine is also limited by its unsuitability for conditions requiring a physical examination. Addressing these obstacles is essential to ensuring virtual care remains an affordable and equitable component of future healthcare.