Expanding Telehealth in Adolescent Care: Moving Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic
Steve North
Abstract
Telehealth use has expanded dramatically through the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, allowing improved access and convenience for many patients. Before coronavirus disease 2019, there was limited research on the use of telehealth to reach adolescents. During the pandemic, research revealed that adolescents and their parents felt telehealth was convenient and provided confidential, high-quality care. As the use of telehealth to reach adolescents evolves in the postpandemic period, medical providers have the opportunity to transform how care is delivered to adolescents but must strive to ensure that the care is designed to decrease digital health inequities and provide coordinated care.
Topics & Concepts
TelehealthPandemicMedicineConfidentialityCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Health care2019-20 coronavirus outbreakTelemedicineSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Medical emergencyCoronavirusPatient confidentialityDiseaseVirologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)Computer securityPathologyOutbreakEconomic growthEconomicsComputer scienceMobile Health and mHealth ApplicationsHealthcare Quality and SatisfactionTelemedicine and Telehealth Implementation