Telehealth: How technology is changing healthcare access

One silver lining to the great dark cloud that was the pandemic is the rise of telehealth. 

In early 2020, telehealth appointments were at their peak at 25%, and while those numbers have dropped down as life returned to normal, it’s still an option for people to jump on a call with an online doctor for a consultation.

As a result, it’s changing the game for everyone when it comes to healthcare, including seniors. 

What is telehealth and why is it a viable alternative to in person GP visits?

The definition of telehealth is ‘health care delivered using digital technology where participants may be separated by time and/or distance.’

It also includes instances where specialists gather together via digital technology to discuss the health or wellbeing of a particular patient, even when the patient isn’t in attendance. 

Overall, it can incorporate: 

  • Smartphones, tablets, and laptops
  • Sensors and monitors
  • Digital wearables and implants
  • Text or phone messaging
  • Email and other messaging services
  • Web and mobile apps
  • Chat bots and AI

The key benefits of telehealth services

The benefits of telehealth are many, and go well beyond benefits just for the patient in question. 

For some, the key benefit is saving on the time it takes to travel to and from appointments, especially for those living outside of cities. For others, the main benefit of online telehealth consultations is being able to get an appointment sooner rather than waiting for an in-person visit. 

Other patients might feel more relaxed speaking to a doctor when they are in the comfort of their own home, and have the buffer of a screen between them. Another benefit for some patients is that they don’t have to visit a doctor’s office where they might be exposed to infectious illnesses from other patients. 

Further to all of the patient benefits, telehealth can also help carers who have less work in moving patients to and from visits. It also makes the job easier for healthcare providers, reducing their travel. 

What conditions can be treated through telehealth?

Telehealth is obviously not for emergency situations – in those cases, get yourself to an emergency room as soon as possible. 

They are also not applicable for anything where a doctor will need to run tests, such as taking your blood or checking your blood pressure. However, telehealth is good for basically everything else. 

In particular: 

  • Initial specialist assessments
  • Follow-up appointments
  • Discharge planning meetings
  • Therapy (especially mental health)
  • Acute assessments
  • Team meetings between different disciplines

Getting started with telehealth: How to make your first online GP visit

In New Zealand, we have access to not just one or two, but numerous websites and phone numbers where we can access telehealth services. These are typically available all day every day (and every night), and are free to the public. 

They include: 

Keep in mind, your usual GP may also offer telehealth and online doctor services, so be sure to ask your usual clinic’s availability and how to set up an appointment online. 

Addressing concerns and misconceptions

Some of the main concerns around telehealth is that it has limitations when it comes to physical examinations, and that it has limited in-person interactions.

However, these concerns are primarily an issue only if telehealth is seen as a replacement to traditional, in-person care. Importantly, telehealth should be used as a tool in addition to in-person care, so patients and doctors enjoy the benefits of both styles. 

Getting it sorted online

While you’re taking care of your health online, you should also consider taking care of your family’s financial future online, too. Seniors Life Insurance offers a plan B for you and your loved ones, so take a look at the options and request a quote to get the ball rolling today. 

5 May 2025