Policy Implications Associated with the Socioeconomic and Health System Impact of Telehealth: A Case Study from Canada
Abstract
This research was undertaken to inform future telehealth policy directions regarding the socioeconomic impact of telehealth. Fifty-seven sources were identified and analyzed through a comprehensive literature search of electronic databases, the Internet, journals, conference proceedings, as well as personal communication with consultants in the field. The review revealed a focus on certain socioeconomic indicators such as cost, access, and satisfaction. It also identified areas of opportunity for further research and policy analysis and development (e.g., social isolation, life stress, poverty), along with various barriers and challenges to the advancement of telehealth. These included confidentiality, reimbursement, and legal and ethical considerations. To become fully integrated into the health care system, telehealth must be viewed as more than an add-on service. This paper offers 19 general and 20 subject-specific telehealth recommendations, as well as seven policy strategies.
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The creation of standards may reduce health professionals' concerns over patient data safety and professional liability.
“The creation of standards may serve to reduce health professionals’ concerns over patient data safety and professional liability [17, 33]”
From Factors that influence the implementation of e-health: a systematic review of systematic reviews (an update) (2016) · cites this paper as [33]
Existing evidence on eHealth readiness mainly relates to organizational readiness within the health service or the readiness of health professionals, patients, or carers for a specific single digital health service.
“However, the existing evidence mainly relates to organizational readiness within the health service [17,18] or the readiness of health professionals [19-21], patients or carers for a specific single digital health service [22].”
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- Authors
- Jennett, P. A., Scott, R. E., Affleck Hall, L., Hailey, D., Ohinmaa, A., Anderson, C., Thomas, R., Young, B., & Lorenzetti, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Calgary (CA)
- Venue
- Telemedicine Journal and e-Health
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2004-03
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 77-83
- ISSN
- 1530-5627 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2001161824
- Cited by
- 61
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 3.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Telemedicine Journal and e-Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare Systems and Practices
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
- Keywords
- telemedicine, health policy, socio-economic impacts, health system integration, cost, health care access, patient satisfaction, social isolation, poverty, confidentiality, reimbursement, legal and ethical issues, barriers to telehealth, Canada
- MeSH terms
- Alberta, Health Plan Implementation, Health Policy, National Health Programs, Policy Making, Socioeconomic Factors, Program Development, Telemedicine, Organizational Case Studies
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