The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the U.S. healthcare system. Virtual healthcare became very important as providers moved away from in-person visits. However, as the pandemic has gotten better, the demand for virtual care has gone down.
From April to June 2020, there were 76.6 million telehealth visits. By the end of 2022, this number had dropped to 41.5 million. Factors like age, race, and where people live played a role in this decline.
At the same time, there was less investment in digital health technologies. Healthcare providers and payers started to question how well these solutions worked and if people were using them enough. Caroline Pearson from the Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI) said there is growing doubt about the potential of these solutions.
Despite challenges, virtual healthcare has made progress in some areas. About half of mental and behavioral healthcare visits in the U.S. are now done by video or phone. Remote Patient Monitoring has helped manage chronic diseases better.
Future prospects for virtual care
Patients with chronic conditions often use telehealth. This has led to improved health and ongoing care.
Digital health tools have also made physical therapy easier to access. A 2024 PHTI report showed that virtual physical therapy greatly improves pain and function. Virtual healthcare has allowed health systems to expand their clinical workforce too.
For example, Providence has worked with RPM providers to help primary care doctors manage chronic diseases. However, virtual healthcare has seen setbacks in some medical fields. Fewer specialists have continued telehealth visits.
An American Medical Association survey in 2023 found that only a small percentage of certain specialty visits were done virtually by late 2023. In specialized fields like orthopedics or cancer treatment, virtual visits are minimal. This makes it hard to maintain an effective virtual care system.
While virtual healthcare has not fully met its pandemic promises, it has made important advances in mental health, chronic disease care, and expanding the clinical workforce. As healthcare keeps evolving, those involved must evaluate and improve virtual healthcare plans to get the most benefits.
