As Telemedicine Use Explodes, Are We Certain the Service Is Properly Insured?

Telemedicine services can happen in real time, such as through a Zoom call or another video call provider. They could even be asynchronous — for example, a patient uploads their health data for review and comment at a later time by their physician.

Ongoing communications may then take place, including diagnosis and medication review. As well, physiological data, such as that tracked by a personal wearable like a Fitbit or Apple Watch, can be transmitted, stored and reviewed by a health provider asynchronously.

Telemedicine was initially used as a way to resolve challenges of physical distance between patient and provider, allowing for the treatment of isolated patients or consultation with far-away specialists.

However, these qualities that make it useful for resolving physical distance also make it well designed for a quarantined population limited by pandemic-induced isolation.

By seeking services virtually, healthy patients who are seeking routine services can avoid possible exposure by staying at home, and patients who are already ill or showing symptoms of COVID-19 can remain isolated from the rest of the population.