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Synchronous telemedicine (i.e., real-time telemedicine) is a virtual alternative to an in-person doctors visit: think FaceTime or Video chat between a patient and their provider or caregiver. Synchronous telemedicine has evolved and expanded in recent years, but two questions remain: one, are video visits cost-effective and two, can providers deliver quality care through video visits?

In 2018, the CDC determined that one in 59 children is diagnosed with ASD in the United States. Often, children with autism and their families live too far away from care and support or cannot access it due to high costs, limited availability, and other circumstances. Telehealth can serve as a wonderful resource for the ASD patient and their family as it can be utilized for diagnosis, therapy/treatment, and caregiver education.

Over the last few years, delivery of health has evolved from in-person office visits to virtual visits and remote patient monitoring. Consumers today value convenience as much as quality and cost, and health systems and other providers have adapted in response to this demand. For the majority of health care providers, workflow revolves around the Electronic Medical Record, the one-stop shop for care coordination, medical data storage, and progress tracking.

As telehealth rises in both its popularity and reach, it is sure to expand to more patient populations and areas of healthcare. When thinking beyond the traditional applications of telehealth, we open doors to a wide array of possibilities within the field of remote patient monitoring. As we explore these new avenues, we will start to see that telehealth has the potential to benefit many different types of patients. In orthopedics, for example, telehealth can be used to service patients post hip and knee replacement as they recover from surgery.

For the expectant mother, pregnancy should be a time of excitement and peaceful preparation. Currently in the United States most obstetric practices require a minimum of a dozen (and frequently more) in-person office visits. This taxing demand on soon-to-be new parents can be mitigated through the utilization of telehealth. Can the application of telehealth help women have healthier pregnancies, while maintaining a high quality of care without compromising positive outcomes and feelings of support?

In the United States today, there are more than 5.5 million people living with Alzheimer's and other dementia, and the number is continually growing. As the baby boomer generation ages, the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) will increase, not only affecting the lives of those living with the disease, but also the lives of caregivers and the healthcare system as a whole. Telehealth has great potential to improve the standard of care for patients living with Alzheimer's disease.