Healio: Expanded Use of Telemedicine Allowed Broader Access to Care Should be Maintained
A study conducted at Massachusetts Eye and Ear found that the COVID-19 pandemic expanded the use of telemedicine, promoting wider access and continuity of care, including for people who live farther away from tertiary eye centers. The study found that patients who were out of state were as likely as those who were in state to use telemedical care vs. in-person care. Out-of-state patients received a significantly greater proportion of telemedical care vs. in-person care. Moreover, patients who lived farther away from the eye center received a significantly greater proportion of telemedical care. The authors concluded that proposals to revert to pre-pandemic policies requiring in-state telemedicine could set back forward progress made during the pandemic, including negative impacts on access to care and continuity of care for established patients.