New Australian Survey Highlights Why US Must Improve its Telehealth Policy

Telehealth is one of the most promising recent developments in modern healthcare, and Australia has shown that it is more than ready to embrace it.

While Australians have accepted telehealth with plenty of enthusiasm, they also want assurances that it will not compromise their medical data.

They want providers to be transparent about how the process of virtual care works and be ready to take accountability when something goes wrong.

Australians also want technology to remain a tool that helps medical professionals deliver the best care possible rather than replacing them altogether.

During a recent survey conducted by advocacy group Patients Australia (PA), over 5,000 adults were given a chance to air their opinions about telehealth.

Two-thirds of participants were from major cities across Australia, and their response was tabled during a meeting hosted by the Australian Telehealth Standards Consortium (ATSC).

ATSC is one of several groups leading the movement for telehealth quality standards. The consortium comprises several medical groups, including telehealth providers such as Qoctor.

According to this Qoctor review by Medicompare, the platform is one of the best in the country in terms of bringing healthcare to the patients’ doorstep at an affordable cost.

Despite the plethora of services Qoctor and other telehealth platforms provide, Australians are demanding more from a system that now plays a huge role in their wellbeing.

Their feedback will inform telehealth provision in numerous other jurisdictions. These include the United States, where a fragmented set-up hinders progress.

Convenience in the Name of the Game in Telehealth

Convenience is the driving force behind telehealth’s popularity among Australians.

Around 80 percent of participants in the survey claimed convenience is the reason they chose telehealth as their preferred means of handling routine healthcare needs.

Telehealth providers allow them to renew prescriptions, receive medical advice and have follow-up conversations remotely. The services take the strain off the healthcare system.

While telehealth is widely accepted in Australia, 92% of respondents agree that telehealth should meet the required safety and quality standards.

As much as they want to receive medical advice at their own convenience, they want to be confident the information they receive is accurate and grounded in established medical practice.

Patients want telehealth to be integrated into the healthcare system with the same seriousness and accountability as any other medical service.

Australians also want to make sure that they have some sort of control over how their personal information is collected or disseminated.

More than 70% of respondents said it was very important that providers ask for permission before sharing any medical information.

They want providers to be transparent about how their data is stored, who it is shared with and whether artificial intelligence (AI) is used during virtual meetings.

The fact that only 17% of respondents were comfortable receiving medical advice without doctor oversight proves how much they value the human element in telehealth.

How Does Australia Compare to the US?

The United States is also dealing with an increased demand for transparency in healthcare. The US telehealth system is heavily fragmented, with policies differing across all 50 states.

According to the Centre for Connected Health Policy (CCHP), telehealth laws and Medicaid programme policies change depending on the state a patient is located in.

The fragmented nature of telehealth in the US means each state is allowed to develop its own policy, which makes it difficult for citizens to pick up where they left off if they switch locations.

However, according to recent data from health organisations in the US, Americans are largely satisfied with the level of routine care and mental health services they receive through telehealth.

Americans also appreciate being able to get through to medical professionals without being stuck in waiting rooms. Telehealth has made it possible for them to schedule appointments with ease and access specialists.

American patients are also cautious about their privacy, data security and the consistency of telehealth standards. The feedback is remarkable similar to the Australian survey results.

The US is struggling to create a single rule that can unite its fragmented telehealth environment, but patients in both countries share similar values, demands and expectations.