“Telehealth Allows for Flexibility and More Equity”: Provider Perspectives on Telehealth for Outpatient Palliative Care for Underserved Patients

• DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2024.0525
• Publication Date: 2025-02-26T16:17:26Z
• Authors: Julia I. Bandini; Jeannette Tsuei; Dio Kavalieratos; Sangeeta C. Ahluw...; Enrique Vazquez; Kimberly Curseen; Jordan M. Harrison
• Keywords: Telehealth; Equity

Background: Telehealth for outpatient palliative care has grown rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic, yet there remain important questions about use of telehealth underserved patient populations in a "postpandemic" society. Objective: To examine current perspectives from interdisciplinary providers on and in-person among patients. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with clinic staff (n = 17) one health system United States. Results: Providers endorsed tele-palliative patients because it enhanced patient-centered increased equity. However, noted two main challenges to telehealth: technological issues part policies around prescribing controlled substances. Conclusions: Future efforts improve may focus institutional infrastructure support consider substances