How COVID-19 fast-tracked healthcare delivery reform
Over the last couple of years, the pandemic has highlighted the need for healthcare delivery reform in the U.S. Prior to COVID-19, telehealth was relatively rare. Throughout the pandemic, in-person care was not always an option and telehealth was brought to the forefront. It proved its capabilities to bring medical care to millions with poor access and demonstrated how effectively it can provide care to those in need.

From telehealth medicine services to clinical studies to vaccine distribution, technology has played a significant role in battling the COVID-19 pandemic. When skyrocketing infection rates swept the nation, rapid advances in health-related technologies enabled physicians and laboratories to keep up with the fluctuating demand, track infections and conduct extensive contact tracing efforts. The application of various health technologies helped to slow the spread of the virus. Even after introducing and distributing vaccines across the U.S., testing continues to play a critical role. Maintaining and scaling testing capabilities when needed helps other industries safely reopen and healthcare officials identify emerging strains of the virus, locating where those new strains are most prevalent.
COVID-19 acted as a catalyst to the fast rise in telehealth adoption, enabling consumers to use a variety of services for healthy living and connect with their physicians in a new way. Patients could receive a diagnosis of care in their own homes over a computer or mobile device, proving a new model of healthcare delivery is possible. While the U.S. healthcare system is not going to completely restructure overnight, telehealth has augmented the democratization of healthcare by placing treatment in the hands of the consumer. As we look to a future beyond the pandemic, telehealth will likely remain in fashion as busy consumers can more easily schedule calls with their providers and continue with their daily routines instead of having to come into an office setting to receive care. Moreover, the adoption of telehealth and other digital technologies helps relieve the burden on overworked healthcare workers - keeping physicians healthy, preserving their physical and mental health. Continuing to integrate new technologies introduced during the pandemic will help lighten physicians’ workloads and afford them more time to adequately treat patients while also achieving work/life balance of their own.

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