Abstract
Telehealth has tremendous potential to improve healthcare access, efficiency, and safety; the COVID pandemic has only made this more evident. The high number of excess deaths1 and decreased utilization of medical care early in the pandemic,2 especially for individuals over age 65, make the case for continued utilization of telehealth in an older adult population post pandemic.
In this issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Bhatia et al. share the results of a mixed methods survey of 208 individuals aged 65 and over regarding their experience of utilizing telehealth (audio only and/ or video) in place of in-person visits with their primary care provider (PCP).3 Most respondents liked their telehealth experience and thought telehealth should remain a covered option post pandemic. Respondents appreciated the convenience and time-saving nature of telehealth. Satisfaction with telehealth visits was equally high for all age groups including people aged 75 and over. Though many acknowledged the benefits of in-person visits, a majority want telehealth visits with their PCPs to remain an option for the foreseeable future. The authors assert that these findings make a strong argument for continuing Medicare reimbursement of telehealth visits after the pandemic.3
Though having telehealth available for older adults has clear advantages, it is equally clear that guidelines need to be in place to facilitate its optimal deployment and use. This is especially true for complex or vulnerable older patients. The West Health Institute-supported Collaborative for Telehealth and Aging created and organized a set of such guidelines (see Figure 1) into three main categories: (1) patient-centered, (2) equitable and accessible, and (3) integrated and coordinated.4 Each of these domains must be considered if high-quality telehealth-facilitated care will be delivered to older adults. Reviewing the results of the study by Bhatia et al., which was directed at an older adult population likely to have the best possible experience of telehealth visits, through the lens of these domains elucidates significant considerations as to how telehealth is best offered to older adults.