Research Brief
Greater adoption of telemedicine could offer economic and social benefits for Canada
Dec 6, 2021
This study examined the potential impact in Canada of continued, long-term use of telemedicine. Researchers found that, alongside the benefits from tools such as telemonitoring and digital health records, widespread use of teleconsultations could lead to significant benefits for patients, the economy and wider Canadian society. The findings directly contribute to the evidence base in telemedicine and virtual healthcare more generally.
Does not include appendices
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Telemedicine has been available in Canada for a while but its uptake before the COVID-19 pandemic has been slow. The pandemic has since changed how people in Canada access healthcare by hastening digital transformation in the sector. Pre-pandemic, Canada was behind its international peers in its use of telemedicine. Now, many patient consultations, both primary and specialist, are conducted virtually.
RAND Europe researchers examined the potential impact in Canada of continued, long-term use of telemedicine, which can include the use of 'smart' devices to conduct medical tests, the digital storage and sharing of medical records, and real-time tele-consultations between healthcare providers and patients. They looked at the quality, access and cost of telemedicine, the barriers that have led to its relatively slow adoption, and what the economic effect would be of an increase in uptake.
The study found that, alongside the benefits from tools such as telemonitoring and digital health records, widespread use of teleconsultations could lead to significant benefits for Canadian patients, the Canadian economy, and wider Canadian society. The findings directly contribute to the evidence base in telemedicine and virtual healthcare more generally.
Chapter One
Introduction
Chapter Two
The potential societal impacts of adopting TM
Chapter Three
Quantifying the potential societal impacts associated with the use of TM in Canada
Chapter Four
Barriers to the adoption of TM
Chapter Five
Conclusions and recommendations
This research was prepared for Telus Canada and conducted by RAND Europe.
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