WEEK 8 DISCUSSION BOARD RESPOND TO BOTH

Telemedicine Though it's not exactly a "technology", it is definitely a different way of delivering healthcare by technological means. Telemedicine was not used heavily pre-COVID, but is now a staple in communicating and caring for patients remotely and without being physically present at a doctor's office. Because of the success of telemedicine, I can see it being used post-COVID for appointments that may not need physical evaluations or if a patient simply wishes to speak to a healthcare professional by virtual means.

Telemedicine poses major benefits such as prioritizing which patients need to be seen in person and which can be evaluated virtually. This will prevent long waits at offices or any congregating which has the potential to spread illnesses. There are concerns, however, since telemedicine was not heavily used pre-COVID. An article in the New York Times states that, "Medicare’s coverage of a broad range of services is slated to end when the coronavirus no longer poses a public health emergency" (Abelson, 2020). In order for telemedicine to continue being insured, doctors must convince insurers that they can treat and diagnose beyond the scope of respiratory issues to treat more chronic illnesses. There are insurers that have spoken out about how they intend on making coverage for telehealth permanent, which is a positive sign.

References:

Abelson, R. (2020, August 03). Is Telemedicine Here to Stay? Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/health/covid- telemedicine-congress.html

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