Dive Brief:
- While patients have a positive attitude towards using it, it appears that telemedicine is not ideal for optimal palliative care, according to a new study published in the journal Telemedicine And e-Health.
- The study was done by conducting four group interviews with 17 health professionals in two different palliative care teams in Denmark. The interviews took place from 2009 to 2010.
- Researchers found that while palliative care professionals saw many advantages in telecommunication with a camera device, they thought it was best as a substitute or supplement to conventional telephonic communication. They felt that having in-person visits did a better job of allowing the caretaker to pick up on nonverbal information about the patient, as well as the state of the home.
Dive Insight:
As helpful as telemedicine can be in some situations, patients might benefit more from face-to-face care in other situations, of which palliative medicine may be one. The professionals seemed much more comfortable with the idea of caring for the patient in situ, which not only made interviewing easier, but gave them a wealth of situational cues to absorb. Even if insurance companies are willing to pay for such visits, in other words, some providers may not be comfortable with the telemedical approach.