Global telehealth and healthcare generally remained at a slow and steady pace until 2020!
 
Although technology and innovation moved forward rapidly, global adoption, access, and payment for telehealth proved challenging pre-2020.
 
Why, you may ask? 

Journey of Telehealth

Past

Some of the answers are easier than others and vary by country. I was first formally introduced to telehealth in 2011 when I worked for UnitedHealth Group. I’ve been on all sides of healthcare since 1984. In 2011, the offerings were very limited, and only certain states in the US allowed it. 

It was mainly viewed as a solution for Episodic Care needs and was a telephonic solution at that point. In 2013, I decided to start a Tele-Wellness company that would work in harmony with the Telehealth companies. I was a pioneer in that space, and one of the few Women Owned Bootstrapped startups too.

Thinking back, probably one of the earliest and most famous uses of hospital-based Telemedicine was in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when a closed-circuit television link was established between the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute and Norfolk State Hospital for psychiatric consultations. Now Tele-psych is red hot!

Future

Ironically, the future of telehealth was scripted in the cartoon sitcom, The Jetsons, which aired on September 23, 1962, and was produced by Hanna-Barbara Productions. The writers and producers imagined healthcare of the future, and much of their vision was realized globally in the last few years through telehealth.

So, what are the predictions for the future beyond 2022? What forecast are we making from an investment perspective? What have we learned recently and in the past? What is research revealing? What do we want to accomplish in the future? 

The future is now! 

I see a world filled with global collaborations, offshore support services, new connected health devices, interoperability, favorable payment models, genetic and genomic testing, research integration, and so much more! 

We have the opportunity to openly discuss and realize the global need for expanded telehealth, rethinking reducing the barriers to access and global collaborations to pave the path forward.

This article was contributed by our expert Marilyn Crawford

Frequently Asked Questions Answered by Marilyn Crawford

Q1. What are the types of telemedicine?

Telemedicine can be majorly distinguished into 3 main categories:

Store-and-Forward Telemedicine

Healthcare providers share patient medical information like lab reports, imaging studies, videos, and other records with a physician, radiologist, or specialist at another location. It is an efficient method of sharing information.

Remote Patient Monitoring

This allows healthcare professionals to track a patient’s vital signs and activities at a distance and is often used to manage high-risk patients.

Real-time telemedicine

Patients and providers use video conferencing software to hear and see each other. While the other types of telemedicine enhance traditional in-person visits, real-time telemedicine can be used in place of a trip to the doctor’s office in certain situations.