National Wellness Month: How Telehealth Improves Personal Wellness and Self-Care
As we commemorate National Wellness Month this August, it is important to highlight how telehealth improves personal wellness for millions of patients. Telehealth provides a means for more efficient care and expanded access for both patients and providers, leading to numerous benefits that contribute to overall wellness. Despite these advantages, critical telehealth flexibilities are set to expire at the end of this year, and Congress has yet to take action to protect them. It is crucial for lawmakers to act urgently to safeguard virtual care for those who rely on it.
Virtual care supports wellness in numerous ways. For example, telehealth can help alleviate patients’ anxiety about attending a doctor’s appointment. Many people find that consulting with their provider from the comfort of their home is a game-changer. A recent study found that receiving care in the comfort of their homes made patients feel more at ease during appointments because they felt greater privacy, leading to more relaxed and open discussions with clinicians.
Further, proximity to health care, especially for residents in rural areas, is a long-standing problem in creating equitable access to healthcare. Rural patients located in healthcare deserts have significantly benefited from telehealth services. Data has also shown how wait times due to proximity to care and other administrative delays are improved through telehealth. The national average wait time for behavioral health services is 48 days. Because of the sensitivity and urgency of mental and behavioral health services, many patients are not able to wait that long to receive care. However, research has shown that telehealth services can significantly reduce wait time when scheduling appointments. One group of behavioral health clinics used telehealth to provide more than half of patients seeking appointments within ten days. This efficiency means more time and attention dedicated to managing personal wellness.
Telehealth has emerged as an indispensable tool in expanding mental health care access for the millions of Americans facing common mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Recent research shows that mental health services continue to rank highest among the specialties still using telehealth widely and have a higher-than-average telehealth use. According to a recent study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, virtual mental health care improves treatment engagement, care retention, and patient satisfaction, leading to improved long-term health outcomes. One 2022 study from athenahealth also found that telehealth mental health patients are 88.3 percent more likely to obtain a diagnosis than a traditional in-person appointment.
In addition to supporting patients, telehealth offers convenience and ease for physicians. One study noted that 78 percent of healthcare practitioners agreed that providing telehealth services from locations convenient to them “significantly reduces the challenges of stress, burnout, or fatigue.” Further research has stated that providers have seen increased schedule flexibility and better work-life balance without lengthy commutes. Health care providers’ wellness and mental health can often be overlooked due to the natural focus on patients, but when our providers can work at their best, patients receive the best quality care.
Telehealth improves personal wellness for patients and providers. Congress must take urgent action to safeguard virtual care for as long as possible. Learn more about how Congress can act now HERE.