It is no secret that technology adoption in healthcare often lags adoption in other sectors. Often, the slow pace of adoption makes sense. While technology can drastically improve both cost and quality in healthcare when implemented correctly, it can also cause physician burnout, increased administrative workload, and worsen patient outcomes if a new technology fails to live up to the hype.
Historically, the slow pace of IT adoption in healthcare was nowhere more apparent than in the adoption of telemedicine. While nearly every other industry adopted widespread use of conference calls, and more recently video chats, in order to collaborate remotely, healthcare providers and patients were both hesitant to adopt these tools to deliver healthcare.
Furthermore, the slow pace of regulatory change around patient privacy and reimbursement provided significant barriers to adoption. COVID-19 has changed all these dynamics in a matter of weeks. Telemedicine has seen a sudden spike in adoption, with many health systems reporting that over half of primary care visits are now being performed via Telemedicine.
Source: Hit Consultant
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