In 2021, ** percent of health insurance providers surveyed in Latin America offered telehealth services across all plans/portfolios to their clients, the highest regional share globally. On the other hand, ** percent of insurers from the Middle East and Africa region mentioned that currently they did not provide telehealth services through their current plans but expected it to be added in 2022.

Between April 2020 and March 2021, approximately ** percent of the Spanish population had a received medical consultation from a doctor online or by phone due to the pandemic, the highest share across all European Union countries. Slovenia ranked second on the list with ** percent of people in the country receiving a telemedicine consultation, followed by Poland at ** percent.

The Research and Development Survey (RANDS) is a platform designed for conducting survey question evaluation and statistical research. RANDS is an ongoing series of surveys from probability-sampled commercial survey panels used for methodological research at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). RANDS estimates are generated using an experimental approach that differs from the survey design approaches generally used by NCHS, including possible biases from different response patterns and sampling frames as well as increased variability from lower sample sizes. Use of the RANDS platform allows NCHS to produce more timely data than would be possible using traditional data collection methods. RANDS is not designed to replace NCHS’ higher quality, core data collections. Below are experimental estimates of telemedicine access and use for three rounds of RANDS during COVID-19. Data collection for the three rounds of RANDS during COVID-19 occurred between June 9, 2020 and July 6, 2020, August 3, 2020 and August 20, 2020, and May 17, 2021 and June 30, 2021. Information needed to interpret these estimates can be found in the Technical Notes. RANDS during COVID-19 included questions about whether providers offered telemedicine (including video and telephone appointments) in the last 2 months—both during and before the pandemic—and about the use of telemedicine in the last 2 months during the pandemic. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many local and state governments discouraged people from leaving their homes for nonessential reasons. Although health care is considered an essential activity, telemedicine offers an opportunity for care without the potential or perceived risks of leaving the home. The National Health Interview Survey, conducted by NCHS, added telemedicine questions to its sample adult questionnaire in July 2020. The Household Pulse Survey (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/pulse/telemedicine-use.htm), an online survey conducted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by the Census Bureau in partnership with other federal agencies including NCHS, also reports estimates of telemedicine use during the pandemic (beginning in Phase 3.1, which started on April 14, 2021). The Household Pulse Survey reports telemedicine use in the last 4 weeks among adults and among households with at least one child under age 18 years. The experimental estimates on this page are derived from RANDS during COVID-19 and show the percentage of U.S. adults who have a usual place of care and a provider that offered telemedicine in the past 2 months, who used telemedicine in the past 2 months, or who have a usual place of care and a provider that offered telemedicine prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Technical Notes: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/rands/telemedicine.htm#limitations

In 2021, ** percent of black respondents to a survey carried in the United States reported to have used telehealth visits in the last year. While, less than a quarter of Hispanic respondents had used telehealth in the last twelve months.

In March 2021, nearly ** percent of respondents surveyed in the U.S. mentioned that they wanted to continue using telehealth services for non-urgent consultations after COVID-19 has passed. This represents a change of attitudes regarding telehealth in the U.S. as approximately ** percent of respondents in March 2020 said that they were hesitant or doubtful about the quality of telemedicine.

The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), collects data from physician offices to describe practice characteristics and patterns of ambulatory care delivery in the United States. After the COVID-19 pandemic began, NCHS added questions to the 2020 and 2021 NAMCS Physician Induction Interview to evaluate physicians’ experiences related to the pandemic. Specifically, physicians in office-based settings were asked about: shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE); experiences with COVID-19 testing; providers in their office who tested positive for COVID-19; turning away COVID-19 patients; and telemedicine or telehealth technology use at their office. Measures related to these topic areas are further described and displayed in data dashboards here: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/namcs.htm.

According to a survey carried out in the United States in 2021, three quarters of physicians had used telehealth to provide primary care visits, while ** percent had carried out appointments for chronic care via telehealth. Furthermore, over a third of physicians reported to have used virtual care to provide mental health support.

In early 2021, Brazil saw a dramatic recurrence in Covid-19 cases associated to the spread of a novel variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the P1 variant. In light of previous reports showing that this variant is more transmissible and more likely to infect people who had recovered from previous infection, a retrospective analysis was conducted to assess if the early 2021 Covid-19 wave in Brazil was associated with an increase in the number of individuals presenting with a more severe clinical course. Fifty-one thousand and fourteen individuals who underwent telemedicine consultations were divided into two groups: patients seen on or before January 31, 2021, and on or after February 1, 2021. These dates were chosen based on the spread of the P1 variant in Brazil. Referral to the emergency department (ED) was used as a marker of a more severe course of the disease. No differences were seen in the proportion of patients referred to the ED in each group nor in the odds ratio of being referred to the ED from the 1st of February 2021 (OR=0.909; 95%CI: 0.81-1.01). Considering the entire cohort, age had an impact on the odds of being referred to the ED, with individuals older than 59 years showing twice the risk of the remaining population and those less than 19 years showing a lower risk.

The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), collects data on visits to physician offices to describe patterns of ambulatory care delivery in the United States. As part of NAMCS, the Physician Induction Interview collects information about practice characteristics at physician offices. Partway through the 2020 NAMCS, NCHS added questions to the Physician Induction Interview to assess physician experiences related to COVID-19 in office-based settings. The data include nationally representative estimates of experiences related to COVID-19 among office-based physicians in the United States, including: shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the past 3 months; the ability to test for COVID-19 in the past 3 months; providers testing positive for COVID-19 in the past 3 months; turning away COVID-19 patients in the past 3 months; and telemedicine or telehealth technology use before and after March 2020. Estimates were derived from interviews with physicians in periods 3 and 4 of 2020 NAMCS and periods 1 through 4 of 2021 NAMCS, which occurred between December 15, 2020 and May 6, 2022. The data are considered preliminary, and the results may change with the final data release.

ABSTRACT Objective: to report on the creation and implementation of telehealth activities developed by the Forest Health Program in communities in conservation areas, in the state of Amazonas, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: this is an experience report on the creation and implementation of the program. Results: the project began in June 2021 with medical and nursing services and currently has 63 points of connectivity installed. Dermatology was the most requested specialty (30.1%), with dermatitis being the main grievance diagnosed. For nursing, the most requested specialty was obstetrics, followed by pediatrics. Rio Madeira and the Catuá-Ipixema Extractive Reserve requested more than half of all consultations. Conclusion: this project showed a differentiated performance of telehealth in riverside communities in Amazonas, especially in the pandemic context, expanding health care in remote areas, such as these.

The global telehealth and telemedicine market is experiencing a significant growth phase, driven by technological advancements and a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a major catalyst, accelerating the adoption of virtual care solutions among both patients and healthcare providers. This market is characterized by increasing investments in digital health infrastructure, supportive government policies, and a growing patient preference for convenient and accessible healthcare. Key segments such as remote patient monitoring and virtual consultations are expanding rapidly. The market is projected to continue its robust growth trajectory, fueled by the integration of AI, IoT, and big data analytics, which enhance diagnostic accuracy and personalize patient care. However, challenges related to data privacy, reimbursement policies, and the digital divide remain critical factors that need to be addressed for sustainable long-term growth.

Key strategic insights from our comprehensive analysis reveal:

The Asia-Pacific region is emerging as the fastest-growing market, with a CAGR of 12.672%, driven by increasing smartphone penetration, government initiatives, and a large underserved rural population.
North America currently dominates the market, holding the largest revenue share due to its advanced healthcare infrastructure, high healthcare expenditure, and favorable reimbursement policies, particularly in the United States.
The integration of advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) for diagnostics, IoT for remote patient monitoring, and blockchain for data security are pivotal trends shaping the future competitive landscape.

Global Market Overview & Dynamics of Telehealth and Telemedicine Market Analysis The global telehealth and telemedicine market is poised for substantial expansion, growing from $61.674 billion in 2021 to an estimated $227.767 billion by 2033, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.502%. This growth is fueled by a confluence of factors, including the rising prevalence of chronic diseases requiring continuous monitoring, the increasing need to reduce healthcare costs, and significant improvements in telecommunication infrastructure. The pandemic accelerated a fundamental shift towards virtual care, making it an integral component of the healthcare ecosystem rather than just a supplementary service.

Global Telehealth and Telemedicine Market Drivers

Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases: The growing global burden of chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory disorders necessitates continuous patient monitoring, which telehealth solutions effectively provide, leading to improved health outcomes and reduced hospital readmissions.
Advancements in Technology and Digital Infrastructure: The proliferation of high-speed internet, widespread smartphone adoption, and advancements in digital health technologies, including wearables and IoT devices, are making telehealth more accessible, reliable, and user-friendly for a broader population.
Demand for Accessible and Cost-Effective Healthcare: Telehealth offers a solution to rising healthcare costs and accessibility issues, particularly for patients in remote or underserved areas. It reduces travel time and expenses, provides immediate access to specialists, and improves the overall efficiency of healthcare delivery.

Global Telehealth and Telemedicine Market Trends

Integration of AI and Machine Learning: AI-powered tools are being increasingly integrated into telehealth platforms for tasks like diagnostic imaging analysis, predictive analytics for disease outbreaks, and personalized treatment plan recommendations, enhancing the capabilities of virtual care.
*Rise of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): The use of connected devices to monitor patients' vital signs and health metrics from their homes is a major trend. RPM allows for proactive management of chronic conditions and timely intervention, improving patient engagement and outcomes.
Expansion into Mental Health (Telepsychiatry): There is a rapidly growing trend of using telehealth to deliver mental and behavioral health services. Telepsychiatry overcomes stigma and accessibility barriers, providing crucial support to a wider patient base in a convenient and private manner.

Global Telehealth and Telemedicine Market Restraints

Data Security and Privacy Concerns: The transmissio...

Electronic health record data from 217 primary care clinics were examined from January 1, 2019 to July 31, 2021. Data included telehealth and in-person visits for 759,138 adult patients (aged ≥18 years). Monthly rates of tobacco assessment per 1,000 patients were calculated. From March 2020 to May 2020, tobacco assessment monthly rates declined by 50% and increased from June 2020 to May 2021 but remained 33.5% lower than pre-pandemic levels. Rates of tobacco cessation assistance changed less, but remain low.

According to a survey carried out among clinicians in the United States and the United Kingdom in 2021, ** percent of respondents agreed that telehealth will make up the majority of patient care in the near future, although ** percent reported they frequently had issues in delivering telehealth to patients.

The National Electronic Health Records Survey (NEHRS) is an annual survey of non-federally employed, office-based physicians practicing in the United States (excluding those in the specialties of anesthesiology, radiology, and pathology). NEHRS began in 2008 and was originally designed as an annual mail supplement to the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). Since 2012, NEHRS has been administered as a survey independent of NAMCS. Data from NEHRS can be used to produce state and national estimates of EHR adoption and capabilities, burden associated with EHRs, and progress physicians have made towards meeting the policy goals of the HITECH Act. In more recent years, survey questions have also asked about Promoting Interoperability programs, sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The global telehealth market size was estimated at USD 41.01 billion in 2021 and is predicted to surpass over USD 224.87 billion by 2030 and poised to reach at a CAGR of 18.81% during the forecast period 2022 to 2030.

Yearly citation counts for the publication titled "Using data from a private provider of telemedicine to assess the severity of the early 2021 Covid-19 wave in Brazil".

According to a survey carried out in Great Britain in 2021, ** percent of respondents overall agreed that telehealth is more time effective than in-person consultations. Furthermore, ** percent agreed that telehealth provides more accessibility to quality healthcare, however, ** percent indicated an unwillingness to use telehealth services post-COVID-19.

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze telemedicine care in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, from April 2020 to March 2021. Method: based on Thied et al.’s dimensions of access, a case study was conducted using secondary data collected from the Bem Estar Network’s telemedicine reports. All 29 Basic Health Units of the municipality were included. Results: a total of 15,548 users were assisted in 21,481 consultations, 64% female (9,953) and 36% male (5,595). The most attended age group was 30-39 years old (19.5%). The number per 10,000 inhabitants for all causes ranged between 35.86/10,000 inhabitants from Oct-Dec/2020 and 65.75 from Apr-Jun/2020. Of these calls, 56% (11,946) targeted coronavirus (causes B342 and B972), ranging from 22.54 consultations per 10,000 inhabitants in Oct-Dec/2020 to 31.96 in Apr-Jun/2020. Conclusions: Results reflect the transformative impact COVID-19 had on telemedicine care as part of the first-line response to the pandemic in Vitória, Brazil. Inequalities in face-to-face access are reproduced in telemedicine, making it essential to maintain a strong relationship between the health system, health teams, and users when implementing telemedicine. Both forms of health care remain interdependent and complementary in the search to ensure equitable access to health.

Background and objectiveEstimating the contribution of risk factors of mortality due to COVID-19 is particularly important in settings with low vaccination coverage and limited public health and clinical resources. Very few studies of risk factors of COVID-19 mortality used high-quality data at an individual level from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We examined the contribution of demographic, socioeconomic and clinical risk factors of COVID-19 mortality in Bangladesh, a lower middle-income country in South Asia.MethodsWe used data from 290,488 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients who participated in a telehealth service in Bangladesh between May 2020 and June 2021, linked with COVID-19 death data from a national database to study the risk factors associated with mortality. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between risk factors and mortality. We used classification and regression trees to identify the risk factors that are the most important for clinical decision-making.FindingsThis study is one of the largest prospective cohort studies of COVID-19 mortality in a LMIC, covering 36% of all lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country during the study period. We found that being male, being very young or elderly, having low socioeconomic status, chronic kidney and liver disease, and being infected during the latter pandemic period were significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality from COVID-19. Males had 1.15 times higher odds (95% Confidence Interval, CI: 1.09, 1.22) of death compared to females. Compared to the reference age group (20–24 years olds), the odds ratio of mortality increased monotonically with age, ranging from an odds ratio of 1.35 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.73) for ages 30–34 to an odds ratio of 21.6 (95% CI: 17.08, 27.38) for ages 75–79 year group. For children 0–4 years old the odds of mortality were 3.93 (95% CI: 2.74, 5.64) times higher than 20–24 years olds. Other significant predictors were severe symptoms of COVID-19 such as breathing difficulty, fever, and diarrhea. Patients who were assessed by a physician as having a severe episode of COVID-19 based on the telehealth interview had 12.43 (95% CI: 11.04, 13.99) times higher odds of mortality compared to those assessed to have a mild episode. The finding that the telehealth doctors’ assessment of disease severity was highly predictive of subsequent COVID-19 mortality, underscores the feasibility and value of the telehealth services.ConclusionsOur findings confirm the universality of certain COVID-19 risk factors—such as gender and age—while highlighting other risk factors that appear to be more (or less) relevant in the context of Bangladesh. These findings on the demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical risk factors for COVID-19 mortality can help guide public health and clinical decision-making. Harnessing the benefits of the telehealth system and optimizing care for those most at risk of mortality, particularly in the context of a LMIC, are the key takeaways from this study.

Background and objectiveEstimating the contribution of risk factors of mortality due to COVID-19 is particularly important in settings with low vaccination coverage and limited public health and clinical resources. Very few studies of risk factors of COVID-19 mortality used high-quality data at an individual level from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We examined the contribution of demographic, socioeconomic and clinical risk factors of COVID-19 mortality in Bangladesh, a lower middle-income country in South Asia.MethodsWe used data from 290,488 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients who participated in a telehealth service in Bangladesh between May 2020 and June 2021, linked with COVID-19 death data from a national database to study the risk factors associated with mortality. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between risk factors and mortality. We used classification and regression trees to identify the risk factors that are the most important for clinical decision-making.FindingsThis study is one of the largest prospective cohort studies of COVID-19 mortality in a LMIC, covering 36% of all lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country during the study period. We found that being male, being very young or elderly, having low socioeconomic status, chronic kidney and liver disease, and being infected during the latter pandemic period were significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality from COVID-19. Males had 1.15 times higher odds (95% Confidence Interval, CI: 1.09, 1.22) of death compared to females. Compared to the reference age group (20–24 years olds), the odds ratio of mortality increased monotonically with age, ranging from an odds ratio of 1.35 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.73) for ages 30–34 to an odds ratio of 21.6 (95% CI: 17.08, 27.38) for ages 75–79 year group. For children 0–4 years old the odds of mortality were 3.93 (95% CI: 2.74, 5.64) times higher than 20–24 years olds. Other significant predictors were severe symptoms of COVID-19 such as breathing difficulty, fever, and diarrhea. Patients who were assessed by a physician as having a severe episode of COVID-19 based on the telehealth interview had 12.43 (95% CI: 11.04, 13.99) times higher odds of mortality compared to those assessed to have a mild episode. The finding that the telehealth doctors’ assessment of disease severity was highly predictive of subsequent COVID-19 mortality, underscores the feasibility and value of the telehealth services.ConclusionsOur findings confirm the universality of certain COVID-19 risk factors—such as gender and age—while highlighting other risk factors that appear to be more (or less) relevant in the context of Bangladesh. These findings on the demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical risk factors for COVID-19 mortality can help guide public health and clinical decision-making. Harnessing the benefits of the telehealth system and optimizing care for those most at risk of mortality, particularly in the context of a LMIC, are the key takeaways from this study.