Millions of employees nationwide embraced the benefits of virtual healthcare in 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic initially forced many primary care offices to temporarily close their doors to in-person appointments, telemedicine visits were the sole method of communication between many patients and providers.
Even as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and medical offices re-opened, the demand for virtual healthcare has endured. Telemedicine is poised to play a large role in the healthcare landscape in the coming years — but how and when did it first emerge? Let’s take a closer look at the origins of telemedicine and what the future of virtual healthcare might look like.
THE HISTORY OF TELEMEDICINE
Modern telemedicine has been around for the last 50 years. Telemedicine, specifically the medium of closed-circuit television, emerged in the late 1960s as a result of projects led by both NASA and the Nebraska Psychology Institute. NASA was looking to build remote monitoring technology that could lead to stronger healthcare options for long-term space missions.
In the 1970s, Kaiser Foundation International partnered with Lockheed Missiles and Space Company to create a remote monitoring system that was capable of delivering healthcare. That pilot program was introduced in the Papago Indian Reservation in southwestern Arizona, a rural location with few medical services, and allowed physician assistants to send patient information gathered from those remote monitoring tools to medical facilities far away.
Though telemedicine has been around for decades, advancements in the field have been slow due to various financial, regulatory, and technological challenges. Legislation like The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 and the HITECH Act ushered in a new era of reforms and technological advancements. The ARRA simplified the exchange of patient medical information by requiring doctors and hospitals to electronically store medical records. The HITECH Act established programs to improve healthcare quality, safety, and efficiency through the promotion of health IT.
THE FUTURE OF TELEMEDICINE
According to a survey from the American Medical Association, telehealth visits and remote patient monitoring had nearly doubled, increasing from 14 to 28 percent, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the pandemic, those numbers have risen dramatically, with an estimated 60 to 90 percent of physicians utilizing some form of telehealth services.
It’s clear that accessing healthcare from the comfort of one’s home will be a huge part of the future of healthcare delivery. The question, though, is how telemedicine can be optimized to both expand access to and improve long-term care.
EDEN HEALTH IS TELEMEDICINE, BUILT TO BE BETTER
Eden’s 24/7 virtual care platform, combined with in-person services, was built for hybrid employees. Whether your team is fully remote, in-person, or somewhere in between, Eden protects your workforce with:
- 24/7/365 virtual care delivered seamlessly via our app
- Same-day appointments at our medical offices
- A dedicated Care Team that allows employees to reach the same providers each time they need care
- Ongoing management for acute and chronic needs
- Mental health support
- Healthcare navigation that helps employees deal with claims, bill advocacy, referrals, and more
- Physical therapy
- Expanded appointment times that help patients form trusted relationships with their providers
Want to learn more about how telemedicine is an integral component of the care your employees want? Contact us today to request a demo.
This blog is intended to be informational in nature. The information and other content provided in this blog, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.
If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your Care Team or other healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog or in any linked materials.
