Telehealth: The benefits, challenges, and the future of this growing technology

The healthcare industry is increasingly adopting new communication technologies for telehealth solutions, with text messaging, video, and other tools being used by doctors' offices, pharmacies, and mental health providers. Telehealth offers numerous benefits such as reduced office visits, expanded access to healthcare, lower provider overhead, decreased patient costs, fewer missed appointments, and improved quality of care. However, challenges include reliance on patient adoption for investment in technology, potential barriers due to lack of internet access or continuity of care, and the need for shared patient information systems. The future of telehealth may involve active monitoring of health via sensors, AI as a diagnostic tool, and smartphones used for self-exams and assessments.