Telehealth video consultation sessions are projected to increase from 19.7 million in 2014 to 158.4 million per year by 2020, according to a new report from market intelligence firm Tractica. Identified drivers of this growth include physician shortages, rising health care costs and the high prevalence of chronic diseases.
The report notes that the flexibility and efficiency of video conferencing can promote both positive patient outcomes and cost savings. However, potential barriers to growth include the high initial cost of deploying services and inconsistent reimbursement models for telehealth consultations.
