01/28/2026
Part 1: The Rise of Telemedicine
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, Telehealth is defined as “The use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, health administration, and public health.” Based on this definition our country has been actively engaged in telehealth for many decades. However; it is only in the last decade, and more significantly during the last five years, that we have truly begun to substitute in-person medical care with virtual patient interactions. This direct patient care, facilitated through virtual connection, is referred to as Telemedicine.
When examining the rise of telemedicine over the past five years, three key factors appear to be driving its rapid adoption.
The first, is the pace at which technology is advancing. Our phones, tablets and computers are more capable now than ever before and the integrated cameras and microphones now allow for clearer, more accurate communication. Access to the internet has also exponentially grown. New fiber optic installations and projects focused on rural internet connectivity abound. In October 2020, SpaceX launched satellite internet services for widespread public use. Now with more than 9,000 satellites in orbit, SpaceX is offering high speed internet to nearly every corner of the globe. These and other initiatives have greatly increased internet availability for those that were previously isolated. Improved internet access and personal device advancements are brought into effective unison by the new apps and platforms that we are seeing developed and perfected each day. When combined, the powerful impact of these technological advancements is undeniable.
The second major driver of telemedicine’s growth was the global COVID-19 pandemic. This unprecedented event dramatically increased demand for technologies that allowed connection without in-person exposure risk. Telemedicine was quickly determined to be one of the answers for how patients could connect with their healthcare providers while keeping everyone safe from the transmission of this new and largely unknown illness. According to the CDC, “The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led to an increase in telemedicine use among physicians, from 15.4% in 2019 to 86.5% in 2021.” This is a staggering increase over a very short time period.
Finally we have to evaluate the economic factors related to telemedicine. Oscar Wilde once said, “When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old, I know it is”. While we hope this sentiment does not reflect the personal values of our readers, it does often hold true when evaluating the forces driving business decisions. The primary purpose of most businesses, after all, is to generate revenue. In recent years, a wide range of large corporations have entered the telemedicine space, including Amazon, CVS, UnitedHealthcare, CareFirst, Walmart, and nearly every major healthcare system. One of the primary reasons for this rapid expansion is the relatively low overhead associated with virtual care. Telemedicine services do not require the same brick-and-mortar infrastructure or level of support staff as traditional medical practices. In many cases, these services can be billed at rates comparable to in-person visits while operating at a fraction of the cost. To be clear, this does not mean that every organization offering telemedicine is doing so solely to improve its bottom line. However; these financial realities are significant and cannot be ignored as we evaluate the broader landscape and place of telehealth in our lives.
As we evaluate the advances in technology, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and powerful economic incentives we begin to see how telemedicine has grown so quickly. As patients, understanding how telehealth has grown so quickly helps as we navigate determining when it is helpful and when in-person care remains essential. In the next part of this series, we will explore the benefits of telehealth and discuss where it can appropriately fit into patient care.
Watch for Part 2: The Benefits and Place of Telehealth
Disclaimer: This editorial is an opinion piece and not to be misconstrued as medical advice.
