Hi, friend! It seems healthcare in modern society has been transformed out of necessity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. I could not help noticing the rapid expansion of telehealth. For example, in the US, at Oregon Health & Science University, the number of digital health visits ballooned from 1,100 in February to nearly 13,000 in March, and all 1,200 ambulatory faculty were able to conduct virtual visits by April 3, 2020. I am not sure about this trend and wonder why individuals believe it would be a solution to current problems.

Welcome.

Thanks a lot!

Thanks for asking. It is true that telecommunications technology can provide or support healthcare delivery across time and/or distance, expand access, facilitate the exchange of information, and deliver care in alternate formats. For example, "remote patient monitoring" helps manage chronic conditions, and "remote ICUs" allow care for critical patients at a distance; with telehealth, care can be extended to remote areas and psychiatric counseling and treatment can be facilitated in the privacy of the patient's home.