Telemedicine Linked To 23% Fewer Follow-Up Visits Over 30-Day Episode

Following an initial telemedicine visit to manage one of 10 common conditions, use of health system services over the subsequent 30 days was 23% lower compared to patients who had in-person visits for the same conditions, according to a recent analysis. Telemedicine encounters were also associated with lower episode charges. The researchers concluded that telemedicine may allow health systems to allocate resources more strategically.

The study compared 30-day episode charges and subsequent visits after an initial telemedicine or in-person visit for 10 conditions commonly managed through telemedicine. The diagnostic categories included mental and behavioral health, infectious diseases . . .