Telehealth has been touted as one solution to New Zealand’s ongoing health-care crisis , which is particularly stark in rural regions . But moving health services online can have a number of unintended consequences that can impact the wellbeing of patients and doctors. Since the pandemic, there has been a growing emphasis on telehealth services – doctors appointments via online platforms or over the phone.
This shift in focus is evident in government policy statements spotlighting telehealth options, increased government funding and the rapid expansion of providers. Telehealth is seen by many as a way to expand access to care, reduce wait times and streamline services. But as my research shows, there are also negatives to moving care online.
These should not be ignored. The pros and cons of telehealth Almost 900,000 New Zealanders live in rural areas, according to a recent report from Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network . Their health outcomes can make for grim reading.
The report found non-Māori men aged 30 to 44 were 1.8 times more likely to die from preventable causes compared with their peers living in urban areas. And Māori under 30 years old living in rural areas were twice as likely to die from a preventable disease as their city counterparts.
As a rural general practitioner based in a remote area of Northland, I see the gap in health care access first hand. For example, there has been no consistent after-hours doctor for two years. Telehealth has offered som.