February 17, 2022 – New data from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker revealed how the shifts in the pandemic might affect the preferences of in-person health visits for patients. When the pandemic surged in the early months of 2020, the government increased access to telehealth to decrease potential exposure and maintain pandemic safety protocols.
The new study contains data on telehealth use from March 2019 to August 2021, showing trends before and during the different stages of the pandemic.
Here are the highlights:
- Before the pandemic, telehealth comprised less than 1 percent of outpatient visits. But, during the early stages of the pandemic, this rose to 13 percent, followed by a drop to 8 percent in 2021.
- This upward trend in telehealth use resulted in a 19 percent increase in general outpatient visits between 2019 and 2021.
- Researchers found that outpatient visits conducted through telehealth were the highest among children, followed by adults, and then by the elderly. Among these age groups, the percentage of visits through telehealth were 18 percent, 14 percent, and 10 percent, respectively.
- Among patients with chronic conditions, the use of telehealth was most prominent between March and August of 2020 and has since declined by over ten percent in 2021. However, it remains higher than usage rates in 2019.
- Although there are still unresolved factors such as access, cost, and quality, the increased use of telehealth can provide outpatients with novel services and treatment. Regardless of the status of the COVID-19 pandemic, some patients find telehealth to be easier and more efficient. These include rural residents who often do not have convenient access to a provider.