Expanding Telehealth in Adolescent Care: Moving Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Telehealth use has expanded dramatically through the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, allowing improved access and convenience for many patients. Before coronavirus disease 2019, there was limited research on the use of telehealth to reach adolescents. During the pandemic, research revealed that adolescents and their parents felt telehealth was convenient and provided confidential, high-quality care. As the use of telehealth to reach adolescents evolves in the postpandemic period, medical providers have the opportunity to transform how care is delivered to adolescents but must strive to ensure that the care is designed to decrease digital health inequities and provide coordinated care.

Utilization and Spending on Mental Health Services Among Children and Youths With Commercial Insurance

“…Our findings indicate that pediatric telehealth care for mental health needs filled a critical deficit in the immediate period following the emergence of COVID-19 and continues to account for a substantial proportion of pediatric mental health service utilization and spending. Supported by evidence that telehealth can effectively deliver mental health treatment for children and youths, these findings have important implications for telehealth sustainability beyond the effects of COVID-19.…”