Bridging the gap: Healthcare practitioners' insights on overcoming Telemedicine barriers and optimal strategies for implementation

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of Telemedicine in healthcare delivery. Healthcare practitioners worldwide swiftly embraced Telemedicine to ensure continuous patient care. With the pandemic's decline, the imperative arises to shift from emergency adoption to routine integration. However, past research has failed to comprehensively examine the challenges hindering Telemedicine's widespread adoption for further institutionalizing Telemedicine as a standard healthcare component. This study aims to develop a framework, identify obstacles, and propose strategies for the sustainable integration of Telemedicine into healthcare. Through a comprehensive review of the literature and empirical data, this study delves into strategies for effecting this transition, drawing insights from healthcare practitioners' pandemic experiences, and further illustrating key challenges and barriers to sustainable Telemedicine implementation beyond the pandemic. Utilizing the extended model of Innovation Resistance Theory (IRT) and insights from healthcare practitioners in Taiwan, we identify 16 key barriers across four categories: Usage Benefit, Risk Concern, Institutional Support, and Social Influence. Employing the Importance-Acceptance Analysis (IAA) model and the Decision Making and Trial Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method, we propose actionable development pathways for Telemedicine implementation. Furthermore, we underscore the pivotal role of healthcare practitioners as primary agents in Telemedicine adoption and provide adaptive strategies to enhance their engagement and support. Implementation of these strategies promises a successful transition of Telemedicine from a temporary measure to an indispensable fixture, thereby augmenting healthcare accessibility, efficiency, and quality in the post-pandemic landscape.