Crossing the Telemedicine Chasm: Have the U.S. Barriers to Widespread Adoption of Telemedicine Been Significantly Reduced?

TLDR

Barriers—including technological, financial, legal, strategic, and human‑resource challenges—have impeded widespread telemedicine adoption for four decades, yet the technology remains essential for expanding health‑care networks. The study argues that telemedicine must be integrated as a core health‑care service, not treated as a separate project, to secure its future success. The authors review recent trends, events, and U.S.

Abstract

Barriers have challenged widespread telemedicine adoption by health care organizations for 40 years. These barriers have been technological, financial, and legal and have also involved business strategy and human resources. The article canvasses recent trends-events and activities in each of these areas as well as US health reform activities that might help to break down these barriers. The key to telemedicine success in the future is to view it as an integral part of health care services and not as a stand-alone project. Telemedicine must move from experimental and separate to integrated and equivalent to other health services within health care organizations. Furthermore, telemedicine serves as vital connective tissue for expanding health care organization networks.