Digital Health: Challenges and Opportunities in Healthcare
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51660/Keywords:
Telemedicine, information technologies, healthcare access, quality of care, equity in health services, sustainability., Telemedicine, information technologies, healthcare access, quality of care, equity in health service, sustainabilityAbstract
Objective. This article examines the main challenges associated with the adoption of telemedicine and highlights the opportunities this care modality offers to improve the quality and equity of health services. Methodology. A qualitative literature review. The research synthesizes findings from various sources, including academic journals, industry reports, and policy documents, to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state and future implications of these technologies in healthcare. Results. Telemedicine, defined as the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to deliver remote medical services, has gained prominence over the past decade, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its ability to overcome geographical barriers and enhance access to care has transformed the interaction between healthcare professionals and patients. Conclusion. As technology continues to evolve, new opportunities emerge for expanding telemedicine, but challenges remain that must be addressed to ensure its effectiveness and sustainability. This article offers valuable insights for healthcare providers, policymakers, and technologists aiming to optimize healthcare delivery in the digital age.
Downloads
References
Alenoghena, C. O., Ohize, H. O., Adejo, A. O., Onumanyi, A. J., Ohihoin, E. E., Balarabe, A. I., ... & Alenoghena, B. (2023). Telemedicine: A survey of telecommunication technologies, developments, and challenges. Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks, 12(2), 20.
Alzahrani, S. A., Khouja, J. H., GhamdI, S. A., Alotaybi, M., Bargawi, A., Alghamdi, A. A., & Fayraq, A. (2023). Telemedicine acceptability among patients of primary health care clinics in the western region, Saudi Arabia. Cureus, 15(6).
Anawade, P. A., Sharma, D., & Gahane, S. (2024). A Comprehensive Review on Exploring the Impact of Telemedicine on Healthcare Accessibility. Cureus, 16(3).
Broens, T. H., Huis in't Veld, R. M., Vollenbroek-Hutten, M. M., Hermens, H. J., van Halteren, A. T., & Nieuwenhuis, L. J. (2007). Determinants of successful telemedicine implementations: a literature study. Journal of telemedicine and telecare, 13(6), 303-309.
Busso, M., González, M. P., & Scartascini, C. (2022). On the demand for telemedicine: Evidence from the COVID‐19 pandemic. Health Economics, 31(7), 1491-1505.
Castro, P. A. F., & Pérez, M. L. T. (2020). Puesta en marcha de salud digital para el aumento de la resolutividad en ocho (8) municipios beneficiarios a partir de una plataforma de telesalud. Documentos de trabajo ECISA, (2).
Currie, J., Charalambous, J., Williams, S., Fox, A., & Hollingdrake, O. (2024). A qualitative approach to exploring nurse practitioners’ provision of telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Collegian, 31(1), 10-19.
Damaševičius, R., & Abayomi-Alli, O. O. (2024). The Future of Telemedicine: Emerging Technologies, Challenges, and Opportunities. Metaverse Applications for Intelligent Healthcare, 306-338.
Dastidar, B. G., Jani, A. R., Suri, S., & Nagaraja, V. H. (2024). Reimagining India's National Telemedicine Service to improve access to care. The Lancet Regional Health-Southeast Asia, 30.
El-Tallawy, S. N., Pergolizzi, J. V., Vasiliu-Feltes, I., Ahmed, R. S., LeQuang, J. K., Alzahrani, T., ... & Nagiub, M. S. (2024). Innovative Applications of Telemedicine and Other Digital Health Solutions in Pain Management: A Literature Review. Pain and Therapy, 1-22.
Fox-Fuller, J. T., Kinger, S. B., Kaplan, R. I., Pluim McDowell, C., Wang, T., Weizenbaum, E., & Cronin-Golomb, A. (2024). Telehealth perceptions and experiences of persons with Parkinson’s disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. Translational Issues in Psychological Science.
Grigsby, J., & Sanders, J. H. (1998). Telemedicine: where it is and where it's going. Annals of internal medicine, 129(2), 123-127.
Hadian, M., Jelodar, Z. K., Khanbebin, M. J., Atafimanesh, P., Asiabar, A. S., & Dehagani, S. M. H. (2024). Challenges of Implementing Telemedicine Technology: A systematized Review. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 15, 8.
Heinzelmann, P. J., Lugn, N. E., & Kvedar, J. C. (2005). Telemedicine in the future. Journal of telemedicine and telecare, 11(8), 384-390.
Hjelm, N. M. (2017). Benefits a nd drawbacks of telemedicine. Introduction to Telemedicine, second edition, 134-149).
Holland, L. M., Dale, R., & Palumbo, M. V. (2021). Implementation of Cognitive Testing via Video-Telemedicine.
Hong, Z., Li, N., Li, D., Li, J., Li, B., Xiong, W., ... & Zhou, D. (2020). Telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic: experiences from Western China. Journal of medical Internet research, 22(5), e19577.
Jin, Z., & Chen, Y. (2015). Telemedicine in the cloud era: Prospects and challenges. IEEE Pervasive Computing, 14(1), 54-61.
Judijanto, L., Anurogo, D., Zani, B. N., Hasyim, D. M., & Ningsih, K. P. (2024). Implementation of Telemedicine in Health Services: Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of World Future Medicine, Health and Nursing, 2(1), 37-50
Karlin, N. J., & Weil, J. (2024). Need and potential use of telemedicine in two rural areas. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 48(1), 102-114.
Kichloo, A., Albosta, M., Dettloff, K., Wani, F., El-Amir, Z., Singh, J., ... & Chugh, S. (2020). Telemedicine, the current COVID-19 pandemic and the future: a narrative review and perspectives moving forward in the USA. Family medicine and community health, 8(3).
Li, P., Liu, X., Mason, E., Hu, G., Zhou, Y., Li, W., & Jalali, M. S. (2020). How telemedicine integrated into China’s anti-COVID-19 strategies: case from a National Referral Center. BMJ health & care informatics, 27(3).
Lucas, J. W., & Villarroel, M. A. (2022). Telemedicine use among adults: United States, 2021.
Mantri, S. P., Manjunath, M., Bathrinath, S., Kavitha, N., Sakthivel, M., Manikandan, R., & Babu, S. T. (2024). Telemedicine in 6G: A Secure Frontier for Healthcare Transformation. In 6G Security Education and Multidisciplinary Implementation (pp. 319-336). IGI Global.
Maugeri, A., Barchitta, M., Basile, G., & Agodi, A. (2024). Public and Research Interest in Telemedicine From 2017 to 2022: Infodemiology Study of Google Trends Data and Bibliometric Analysis of Scientific Literature. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26, e50088
Mustikawati, I. F., Mahmudah, S., Fitriyanti, L., Yuliana, Y., & Utami, R. A. (2024). The Impact of Telemedicine Adoption, AI Diagnostics, and Patient Data Privacy on Healthcare Accessibility and Quality in 2024. Global International Journal of Innovative Research, 2(7), 1675-1685.
Nassar, B. S., Vaughan-Sarrazin, M. S., Jiang, L., Reisinger, H. S., Bonello, R., & Cram, P. (2014). Impact of an intensive care unit telemedicine program on patient outcomes in an integrated health care system. JAMA internal medicine, 174(7), 1160-1167.
Nwankwo, E. I., Emeihe, E. V., Ajegbile, M. D., Olaboye, J. A., & Maha, C. C. (2024). Integrating Telemedicine and AI to Improve Healthcare Access in Rural Settings. International Journal of Life Science Research Archive, 7(1), 059-077.
Nguyen, M. L. T., Garcia, F., Juarez, J., Zeng, B., Khoong, E. C., Nijagal, M. A., ... & Lyles, C. R. (2022). Satisfaction can co-exist with hesitation: qualitative analysis of acceptability of telemedicine among multi-lingual patients in a safety-net healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC health services research, 22(1), 195.
Nittari, G., Savva, D., Tomassoni, D., Tayebati, S. K., & Amenta, F. (2022). Telemedicine in the COVID-19 era: a narrative review based on current evidence. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(9), 5101.
Omaghomi, T. T., Elufioye, O. A., Akomolafe, O., Anyanwu, E. C., & Odilibe, I. P. (2024). A comprehensive review of telemedicine technologies: past, present, and future prospects. International Medical Science Research Journal, 4(2), 183-193.
Palui, R., Pramanik, S., Ray, A., Gupta, U., Siddhanta, S., & Dutta, D. (2020). Managing Diabetes in the COVID-19 Era: Focus on COVID-19 Safe Clinics, Telemedicine, and Diabetes Self-Management. Journal of Social Health and Diabetes, 8(01), 003-007.
Perednia, D. A., & Allen, A. (1995). Telemedicine technology and clinical applications. Jama, 273(6), 483-488).
Rodríguez, S. (2024). Salud digital: un facilitador para el acceso a programas de actividad física para pacientes con esclerosis múltiple en Colombia. Neurología Argentina.
Rosero-Villarreal, F., & Sánchez del Hierro, G. (2024). Aspectos éticos en salud digital. Revisión de la literatura. Acta bioethica, 30(2), 253-261.
Shafik, W. (2024). Data-Driven Future Trends and Innovation in Telemedicine. In Improving Security, Privacy, and Connectivity Among Telemedicine Platforms (pp. 93-118). IGI Global.
Sood, A., Watts, S. A., Johnson, J. K., Hirth, S., & Aron, D. C. (2018). Telemedicine consultation for patients with diabetes mellitus: a cluster randomised controlled trial. Journal of telemedicine and telecare, 24(6), 385-391.
Tipre, M., Scarinci, I. C., Pandya, V. N., Kim, Y. I., Bae, S., Peral, S., ... & Baskin, M. L. (2024). Attitudes toward telemedicine among urban and rural residents. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 30(4), 722-730.
Waller, M., & Stotler, C. (2018). Telemedicine: a primer. Current allergy and asthma reports, 18, 1-9.
Zeltzer, D., Einav, L., Rashba, J., & Balicer, R. D. (2024). The impact of increased access to telemedicine. Journal of the European Economic Association, 22(2), 712-750.
Zhang, X., Ma, L., Sun, D., Yi, M., & Wang, Z. (2024). Artificial Intelligence in Telemedicine: A Global Perspective Visualization Analysis. Telemedicine and e-Health.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Myriam Leonor Torres Pérez (Autor/a)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
