As the nation emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, “it’s time to ask the hard questions” about telehealth, writes David Meyers, MD, acting director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). While there is research-based evidence showing “telehealth, in certain settings and for specific conditions, works to improve outcomes,” he writes, providers need to ensure “its future applications improve quality and value without introducing new safety problems or exacerbating today’s health care inequities.” Meyers calls for additional research to examine telehealth in the contexts of the digital divide, historical racism and health equity.(AHRQ Views post, 6/28/21)
