Does Telemedicine Affect Physician Decisions? Evidence from Antibiotic Prescriptions

• DOI: 10.24251/hicss.2023.693
• Publication Date: 2024-02-16T15:38:35Z
• Authors: Ti Kim; Shujing Sun; Guihua Wang
• Keywords: Endogeneity; Pandemic; Health care delivery; Instrumental variable

Telemedicine has long been of interest to the U.S. general public. Yet, despite advent high-speed internet and mobile device technology, telemedicine did not reach its full potential until COVID-19 pandemic spurred unparalleled adoption. This sudden shift in setting healthcare delivery raises questions regarding possible changes clinical decision-making. Using a unique set patient-provider encounter data from 2020 2021, we examine effect on antibiotic prescription errors for urinary tract infections. After accounting endogeneity issues using provider fixed effects an instrumental variable approach, find significantly lower likelihood with relative in-person encounters. We also heterogeneous by provider's patient volume relationship.