Perceptions of telehealth use by PAs post-COVID-19

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: Use of telemedicine and remote patient monitoring can provide significant cost savings through improved disease control and reduced exacerbations. This study investigated physician associates'/assistants' (PAs') perceptions of telemedicine to inform future use and expansion of these programs. Methods: The Telehealth Usability Questionnaire was completed by 30 PAs recruited via social media. Data were coded and analyzed through an electronic spreadsheet program. Results: PAs generally felt that telemedicine was a helpful tool to increase access to care (M = 4.129) but did not replace in-person visits. Variation in responses related specifically to the platform indicated PAs' varying experiences about ease of use. Conclusions: Findings demonstrated that PAs from a variety of practice settings found telemedicine to be a helpful tool to reduce barriers and improve access to care. However, PAs did not feel that telemedicine replaces in-person visits.