The Future of Telehealth and Home Health Care

Telehealth became the norm overnight because of the pandemic. In actuality, telehealth has existed in some parts of the country–like Nebraska–for over 20 years. In fact, many professionals believe that the demand for video and audio calls in the health market will continue to rise into 2023.

Kevin Stevenson, the Host of the I Don’t Care with Kevin Stevenson podcast, sat down with host Tyler Kern to discuss the past, present, and future of home health care. In today’s episode of Well Connected, Stevenson recalls his time working in Nebraska where he saw how telehealth filled the need to efficiently deliver care in rural areas.

“Covid accelerated what needed to happen. Due to various restrictions, many of the providers in [Nebraska] were working virtually. We saw our virtual visits just explode very quickly. People started being more comfortable with [telehealth because] it offered a level of convenience for them,” explained Stevenson.

The future will continue to support growth in the telehealth industry as more U.S. citizens gain access to the Internet. Stevenson notes that technological advancements, like smartwatches, apps, and wearable medical devices are key indicators of what’s to come. He believes treatment at home for common ailments or chronic conditions will be easier in the near future.

Stevenson went on to discuss the many benefits of telehealth. He discusses what these changes mean to patients, healthcare systems, and providers. These benefits include convenience, not having to spend time with other sick people at onsite facilities, and lower healthcare costs.

“People have migrated from ‘I have to have that personal contact with my provider’ to ‘my encounter is just as good virtually’,” said Stevenson. “Some people may not have embraced or had the opportunity to experience telehealth yet. It’s a trend that’s here to stay and will continue to evolve to improve patient care.”