Most Clinicians Say Telehealth Cannot Effectively Treat Older Patients

A recent survey conducted by West Health and members of the Collaborative for Telehealth and Aging found that more than half of clinicians believe that telehealth is a poor care option for older populations, indicating room for improvement.

Amid the recent growth and expansion of telehealth, research surrounding its clinical applicability for various conditions and populations is growing.

For example, a study from October described how telehealth has expanded access, closed health equity gaps, and displayed great potential for future use among mental health patients.

But, another study from December showed that healthcare chief financial officers indicated that using telehealth has not helped improve the financial situation of rural facilities.

Since older populations often battle various health conditions, researchers from West Health aimed to better understand the relationship between this population and telehealth.

To gather data, researchers distributed an online survey to review telehealth use data and clinician views on the advantages and disadvantages it provides older adults.

A total of 7,246 clinicians responded to the survey, 56 percent of whom were licensed, independent practitioners. The most common specialties represented were geriatric medicine (22 percent) and primary care (9.7 percent).

The survey also indicated that the most common use of telehealth was in hospitals (53 percent), long-term care facilities (47 percent), and outpatient settings (47 percent).

When asked about the advantages of telehealth, 55 percent said that telehealth could help improve healthcare for older adults by enhancing engagement between stakeholders.

However, respondents also indicated several potential disadvantages associated with using telehealth to treat older patients.

About 57 percent of primary care clinicians, 59 percent of geriatric-only clinicians, and 61 percent of clinicians from other specialties said that people exceeding a certain age cannot receive effective care through telehealth. Also, 57 percent of primary care clinicians, 61 percent of geriatric-only clinicians, and 59 percent of clinicians from other specialties noted that the common physical or cognitive challenges exhibited by older adults make telehealth an unrealistic option.

Researchers concluded that since there are clear advantages to using telehealth to care for older populations, the challenges present opportunities to improve virtual care for these patients.

“I was shocked that so many clinicians believe it’s not safe to use remote care with seniors who have complex medical histories or disabilities,” said Liane Wardlow, PhD, senior director of clinical research and telehealth at West Health and a lead author of the study, in a press release. “Our telehealth infrastructures must be designed to account for these factors. The greatest danger of all would be to exclude older patients from remote care.”

This research aligns with concerns regarding telehealth use in senior care.

A November commentary discussed telehealth's potential to provide seniors with improved care and provided a framework for future use.

After surveying older individuals, researchers found telehealth was popular among respondents, independent of age. The survey also indicated that despite the general preference for in-person care, respondents also wanted the option of telehealth.