Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 34% of Americans say they used telehealth services, and two thirds (66%) of Americans say they never used telehealth services, according to a consumer survey conducted by LocumTenens.com. Unsurprisingly, older Americans were the least likely to use telehealth services (83%). However, when asked about the use during the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority (53%) say they have used telehealth services with 22% saying they use it whenever possible.
It’s no wonder then that almost three-quarters (74%) of healthcare providers say their organization has increased their use of telehealth services due to COVID-19, and almost half (44%) say they have invested in new technology solutions to be able to communicate with patients remotely, according to a 2020 report.
At the beginning of the pandemic, a public health emergency declaration was enacted, making telehealth and telemedicine legislation easier for states to adopt. However, this change is only temporary and, unless further action is taken by legislators, will expire once the public health emergency declaration does. Right now there are some legislative bills being proposed in Congress to continue telehealth’s trajectory. Each state also has its own proposed legislation to expand the use of telehealth services beyond the pandemic. Their statuses change regularly, but the Center for Connected Health Policy provides up-to-date information about the different bills and registers.
Why work telehealth? Here are the top 5 reasons:
- Better work-life balance
- More flexible scheduling
- Make yourself a more appealing candidate
- Experience higher patient satisfaction
- The industry is growing
View more about why telehealth could be a great career choice here.
If you need financial support while you build out telehealth capabilities, please check out Panacea Financial’s PRN Personal Loan or Practice Solutions!
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