Telemedicine for Cardiovascular Disease Care

Abstract

Telemedicine is broadly defined as the “use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, and public health and health administration” (HHS. Telehealth: delivering care safely during COVID-19. 2020. https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/telehealth/index.html). It is important to recognize that telehealth is not a disruptor of the practice of healthcare but rather it augments the traditional delivery of healthcare and enables a more agile and continuous mechanism of care provision, which engages the patient more strongly as an equal partner in their care.

Telemedicine adoption has increased among clinicians and patients and we are now focused on promoting safe, effective, patient-centered, and equitable care. Telehealth promotes self-management, reduces medical errors, improves resource utilization and transitions cost savings to patients and their families. Each individual cardiology practice will find they have a range of provider adoption and use cases for blended virtual and in-person care. Across all practices however, establishing telemedicine workflows to ensure appropriateness of services, engagement in shared-decision making and promoting patient education and self-advocacy will be consistent themes.