Telemedicine during COVID-19 Crisis and in Post-Pandemic/Post-Vaccine World—Historical Overview, Current Utilization, and Innovative Practices to Increase Utilization

Abstract

Telemedicine’s underutilization ended when the COVID-19 pandemic caused people to isolate and kept them from seeking healthcare services at their local hospitals and clinics. With the aid of the CARES Act of March 2020, healthcare providers quickly implemented telemedicine services to meet the various needs of their patients. During the pandemic, healthcare systems saw a significant increase in telemedicine visits. Essential industries turned to healthcare providers for assistance in keeping their workers healthy and to maintain production in the country’s critical infrastructure. Telemedicine services could quickly address health concerns, help address industry needs, and combat workforce shortages. As quickly as telemedicine services grew, telemedicine service utilization waned as people started to move closer to a pre-pandemic lifestyle. This descriptive study builds on an in-depth literature review by utilizing a fishbone diagram and SWOT analysis examining the potential factors related to telemedicine underutilization. To promote telemedicine utilization, application of Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation theory outlines how to gain support for the benefits of telemedicine and build on opportunities brought out by the COVID-19 pandemic. Implication for practice could include establishing virtual clinics for industries plagued with workforce shortages.