The Impact of Telemedicine on Healthcare Delivery during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: Opportunities, Innovations, Challenges, and Policy Implications

Ogenyi, Fabian Chukwudi and *Ugwu Okechukwu Paul-Chima

Department of Publication and Extension, Kampala International University Uganda

*Corresponding Author Email: ugwuopc@kiu.ac.ug; ORCID: 0000-0003-3563-3521

ABSTRACT

This narrative review evaluates the implementation purposes of telemedicine in medical service delivery in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine covering all forms of e-Delivery of healthcare has undergone massive changes in technology, comprising patient-specific interfaces and seamless integration with Electronic Health records. With telemedicine, healthcare professionals can telecommute and have virtual meetings with patients, provide remote consultations, monitor patients’ conditions and facilitate the diagnostic processes. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine, leading to a surge in users and highlighting its potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery. However, challenges such as inequitable access, data protection concerns, and healthcare professional adaptation remains. In addition, this review has a policies segment, highlighting the need of comprehensive policies and government aids in order to maximize telemedicine benefits and address its issues.

Keywords: Telemedicine, Healthcare Technology, COVID-19 Impact, Technological Advancements, Therapeutic Workflow, Remote Patient Monitoring and Healthcare Policy

CITE AS: Ogenyi, Fabian Chukwudi and Ugwu Okechukwu Paul-Chima (2024). The Impact of Telemedicine on Healthcare Delivery during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: Opportunities, Innovations, Challenges, and Policy Implications. NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND PHARMACY 5(1):39-48. https://doi.org/10.59298/NIJPP/2024/51394818