DIGITAL HEALTH huge impact . Across the spectrum , it ' s impacted people in so many ways .”
Telehealth service providers jumped to increase access to remote mental healthcare . Previously , many were easily able to put off seeking help for their mental health , invoking reasons ranging from the logistics of childcare to stigma .
“ Transportation could be a barrier , as could finding a provider that is close enough that you could travel to ,” says Mills . “ Sometimes , people prefer being in the comfort of their own home and find it even easier to open up to their provider clinician in a virtual setting . There are many ways that can help really increase access .”
But barriers to access don ’ t just impact patients .
“ On a workforce shortage note , when you have a bricks-and-mortar clinic location , your pool for who you can recruit is only so big ,” says Clark . “ If you ' re virtual , that expands . You get to have clinicians who live where they want to live and they ' re not chained to a specific area .”
A contentious question among patients and professionals alike – does digital healthcare rank as a higher quality service than in-person treatment ? “ It really depends on individual preference ,” says Clark . “ Both in-person and virtual healthcare should be driven by data and outcomes and each should have clinical guardrails . We should offer both .”
“ From a clinical efficacy standpoint , studies have shown that it ' s just as effective ,” says Mills . “ If you can meet people where they are and provide care in the way that they prefer to receive it , you ' re only going to increase engagement , and it ' s more likely that person will stay in-services .”
The future of digital health post-COVID-19 Over the next year , Valera Health will continue its expansion and focus on quality outcomes .
At the MultiCare Behavioural Health Network , Clark says it ’ s now looking at how it can “ ensure behavioural health access and behavioural health presence not just in primary care and paediatrics family medicine , but also across different service lines that maybe we didn ' t fully appreciate , where behavioural health was occurring before the pandemic ”. But what about the future of digital health ? “ It ' s going to keep growing and we ' re going to get better at it – and keep it sustainable ,” predicts Clark . “ Partnerships like this will hopefully become more common , because as we ' ve made it through as a healthcare system and certainly developed lots of great strengths in virtual services , we can learn , develop and grow more quickly by leaning on other organisations ' expertise and strengths .”
“ The expansion into telehealth adoption that was ushered in by the pandemic will , I think , be here to stay ,” says Mills . “ In terms of digital health , I think there will need to be this continued emphasis on measuring outcomes and quality , and ensuring that it is evidence-based . There are so many options now for consumers that it could be confusing , and I think making sure that we ' re taking that outcomes-based approach is really important .” healthcare-digital . com 71