What are the benefits and challenges of telehealth for the professional and the client? by Ari ALDUS

2026-01-18 02:51:54 UTC

Benefits: Working from home and less travel costs

Challenges: internet access, report with the client can be more challenging, adapting to new ways to explain information to clients.

2026-01-18 02:53:19 UTC

Benefits: less travel costs and can complete at a time that suits them better

Challenges: internet access, noise/distractions at home, only having verbal communication can be difficult if more of a visual learner

2026-03-30 13:34:47 UTC

Benefits:

great for rural community patients and families, reduced cost of travel and time,
Greater access for rural community, or patients with lack of transport
Easier access to specialists interstate or in metro

Challenges:

technological difficulties such as devices and wifi connections
Challenges to communication as lack of hands on assessments

2026-05-22 11:15:50 UTC

Benefits: May save costs for lack of travel, generally accessible to most, allows for flexible time and place, crosses distances.

Challenges: Excludes those with poor access or no access to technology or the internet, assumes technological competency, removes the in person element of assessment which for purposes associated with risk and personal safety can be challenging. If someone is injured or something is wrong, things can be missed in a video chat or phone-call that you would be able to see in person.

2026-05-22 11:19:14 UTC

Benefits: Can remove an element of anxiety if meeting a new person. May be more affordable or allow more appointment times due to the lack of requirement of an office space. May allow access where there is none available and allow for those in remote places to access services.

Challenges: reliant on a strong and stable internet connection. Assumes that a person owns the technology to participate which is often significantly expensive. Can remove the face to face element when health related issues rely on assessment in person. May be unresponsive to metal health issues due to social isolation despite access to supports over the phone.

Telehealth

2026-06-05 04:28:55 UTC

Telehealth, when fast tracked into an acceptable norm for providing health care not so long ago, bridged and continues to bridge many gaps to bring equality and equity in health care. Using the TAMs model to measure outcomes of telehealth, pre 2020 there were far less advantages identified and many perceived barriers. Through necessity; stigma, distrust, poor telecommunications, safety, privacy, technology literacy, set up costs, accessibility, program interfaces, usability and mutual acceptance have removed most of the long-standing widespread barriers and perceived barriers. While there are still some of these barriers in place, they are not to the same extent with more publicly funded facilities; libraries, Enterprise Centers, NGOs, interest groups, community centres and telcos donating free wifi supply to name a few - accessibility, infrastructure, cost and start-up costs are minimised or negated for the patient. There remain many areas in Australia where specialised telecommunications are required or no telecommunications are able to be supplied or used negating the ability to use telehealth. In its earliest form that I can recall using were two-way radio use for school of the air and direct link to nurse posts and hospitals.