The Hidden Economics of Telemedicine

Editorials17 November 2015The Hidden Economics of TelemedicineDavid A. Asch, MD, MBADavid A. Asch, MD, MBAFrom Center for Health Care Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M15-1416 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail This issue contains an American College of Physicians (ACP) position paper on the use of telemedicine in primary care settings (1). Will we look back on this paper a few years from now and think of it as quaint—the way we might if we found an old ACP position paper discussing whether physicians should ever talk to their patients on the telephone? The idea behind telemedicine is that patients do not always have to be physically in front of physicians to receive care. The appeal is obvious: Travel costs are largely eliminated; care can reach areas without nearby clinicians; and, ...References1. Daniel H, Snyder Sulmasy L; Health and Public Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians. Policy recommendations to guide the use of telemedicine in primary care settings: an American College of Physicians position paper. Ann Intern Med. 2015;163:787-9. doi:10.7326/M15-0498 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Adler-Milstein J, Kvedar J, Bates DW. Telehealth among U.S. hospitals: several factors, including state reimbursement and licensure policies, influence adoption. Health Aff (Millwood). 2014;33:207-15. PMID: 24493762 doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2013.1054 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Kahn JM. Virtual visits—confronting the challenges of telemedicine. N Engl J Med. 2015;372:1684-5. PMID: 25923547 doi:10.1056/NEJMp1500533 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Anderson C. The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More. New York: Hyperion; 2006. Google Scholar5. Grumet GW. Health care rationing through inconvenience. The third party's secret weapon. N Engl J Med. 1989;321:607-11. PMID: 2668766 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Center for Health Care Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Disclosures: The author has disclosed no conflicts of interest. The form can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M15-1416.Corresponding Author: David A. Asch, MD, MBA, Center for Health Care Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Blockley Hall 1317, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104; e-mail, email protectedupenn.edu.This article was published online first at www.annals.org on 8 September 2015. 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Health worker views on telehealth in the care of older people and implications for successful normalizationState of TelehealthState of TelehealthAbstracts from The American Telemedicine Association 2016 Annual Meeting and Trade ShowImproving Pain Care Through Telemedicine: Future or Folly?Telemedicine for DiabetesTelemedicine has the potential to reduce costs 17 November 2015Volume 163, Issue 10Page: 801-802KeywordsEmergency departmentHealth careMedicareMovement disordersPhysiciansRashesStrokeTasteTaxesTelemedicine ePublished: 8 September 2015 Issue Published: 17 November 2015 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2015 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...