Telemedicine as a Scalable Workforce Multiplier
The physician shortage is no longer a looming crisis—it’s here. With a projected shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, telemedicine can be a key tool for increasing efficiency, extending physician reach, and ensuring timely access to healthcare services. Physicians across the country are embracing telemedicine—and health systems are finding ways to leverage it as a force multiplier to meet the increasing demands of an aging and growing U.S. population.
Trends in telemedicine usage
Doximity’s State of Telemedicine Report, which includes a survey of more than 1,100 of its physician telemedicine users,* examines the evolving role and utilization of telemedicine, and how it’s helping doctors deliver care more effectively and efficiently. Among other findings, the report revealed the following benefits of telemedicine in clinical practices:
- Improved continuity of care: 84% of physician telemedicine users surveyed reported finding telemedicine useful in improving continuity of care for patients with chronic or complex conditions.
- Better disease management: Most physician telemedicine users surveyed (67%) reported the technology has contributed to better disease management, and this figure rises to 77% among oncology telemedicine users.
- Increased access to care: 89% of physicians surveyed agree telemedicine has increased patient access to health care services, particularly among populations that may have had trouble accessing care in the past.
- Equivalent or superior adherence to treatment plans: 78% of physician telemedicine users surveyed have observed better or equivalent adherence to treatment plans with telemedicine. Less than 1% reported decreased adherence.
Leveraging telemedicine to increase access and offset workforce shortages
Ongoing staffing shortages, administrative burdens, and other daily frictions have made it increasingly difficult for physicians to best serve their patients. Still, physicians continue to find ways to increase their productivity—in part by integrating telemedicine services into their practices. In Doximity’s survey, two-thirds of physician telemedicine users reported that virtual care technology has helped them better serve their patients. Nearly a third reported it has allowed them to serve more patients per day, which could help offset workforce shortages.
Here are some of the ways telemedicine is being integrated into patient care:
Streamlining routine care. Research shows that routine, low-acuity conditions, like urinary tract infections, sinusitis, upper respiratory infections and conjunctivitis, can be efficiently managed through virtual visits. This can help relieve in-person schedules and allow physicians to prioritize more complex or urgent cases.
Expanding reach without expanding footprint. Rural and underserved communities are bearing a significant brunt of the physician shortage. Telemedicine can help bridge this gap by connecting patients with providers regardless of geography. A rural patient with diabetes can access a specialist hundreds of miles away from home. This can improve continuity of care and even reduce delays in diagnosis or treatment. Some health systems use centralized hubs staffed by physicians who can now serve multiple clinics virtually. This hub-and-spoke model can particularly benefit specialties like psychiatry, dermatology and endocrinology, where demand often exceeds local supply.
Using tele-triage to prioritize in-person visits. Many health systems now use advanced practice providers (APPs) to conduct initial assessments via video or phone. Patients who require hands-on exams or urgent interventions are escalated, while others can be managed remotely. This “sorting” function can help improve workflow and ensure physicians spend more time on cases that most need their expertise.
Deploying telemedicine strategically
Telemedicine is not a magic wand for the physician shortage, but it’s a powerful tool that can help increase efficiency and patient access to care. The key is to shift from the reactive use of telemedicine to strategic integration. By thoughtfully deploying virtual care health systems can extend the reach of their existing workforce and maintain quality care in the face of rising demand. The physician shortage is a long-term challenge, but with smart implementation, telemedicine can help healthcare providers meet it head-on.
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