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Strong evidence supports the role of telehealth in patient-centered care. That’s according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Reflecting on telehealth during the pandemic, AHRQ researchers identified important benefits of virtual care:

• Increasing access to healthcare services, particularly in rural areas;
• Promoting continuity of care;
• Decreasing healthcare costs; and
• Improving patient self-management and patient outcomes.

“With a robust telehealth infrastructure in place, patients may receive more timely diagnoses and treatment recommendations, more appropriate follow-up care, and a reduced likelihood of experiencing an adverse event as a result of delayed assessment and treatment,” the authors said.

During the pandemic, healthcare professionals throughout Illinois have made sure patients could continue needed healthcare services using telehealth. Passing House Bill 3498 in the Illinois Senate will ensure Illinoisans continue to have access to innovative telehealth services after the pandemic.

The pandemic presented a “unique opportunity to implement innovative and creative approaches to patient care [that] will have long-lasting impacts for the future of telehealth,” the AHRQ article notes. As part of delivering safe, high-quality healthcare “telehealth will become a part of standard practice.”

The Coalition to Protect Telehealth urges the senators to vote “YES” on HB3498. Learn more at https://protectillinoistelehealth.org/.