Telehealth visits are anticipated to continue playing a significant role in endocrine care after experiencing a dramatic rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the telehealth use increase, the Endocrine Society developed a policy perspective with five characteristics of care to help doctors choose whether using telehealth is acceptable in an effort to improve individualized treatment.The Endocrine Society is the oldest and biggest association of researchers interested in hormones and medical professionals who treat patients with hormone-related illnesses. The expands to 122 nations, including more than 18,000 members, comprising researchers, doctors, teachers, nurses, and students.
“Clinicians will need to draw upon their own knowledge of each patient and their clinical goals to decide when to incorporate telehealth into their care,” said first-author Varsha G. Vimalananda, M.D., M.P.H., of VA Bedford Healthcare System in Bedford, Mass., and Boston University School of Medicine in Boston, Mass. “Telehealth visits can be considered as an option each time we schedule an appointment. Patient preference should be elicited, and decisions guided by weighing the factors we describe in the perspective piece.”
When determining whether telehealth is suitable for a patient, five aspects of care must be taken into account. These include clinical factors, including whether an in-person physical exam or assessment is needed clinical variables, such as the necessity of a physical examination or other assessment in person;elements affecting the patient, such as the clinic’s location, transportation options, job and family commitments, and technological comfort level; The interaction between the patient and the physician; the environment and personal circumstances of the clinician; and the accessibility of the infrastructure required to deliver high-quality telehealth services
Endocrine Society members believe that telehealth has a significant impact on eliminating access inequalities to healthcare. Telehealth consultations can make it simpler for patients to get the medical treatment they need despite obstacles such as transportation, cost, mobility, mental health, and job or caregiving obligations. According to the policy viewpoint, telehealth is becoming a more important component of individualized healthcare, but healthcare providers and patients need to talk about how it integrates into the treatment plan they are choosing.
