• IMA sites
  • IMAJ services
  • IMA journals
  • Follow us
  • Alternate Text Alternate Text
עמוד בית
Tue, 03.12.24

REVIEWS

IMAJ | volume 26

Journal 8, September 2024
pages: 529-532

Future Hybrid Hospital and Telehealth as a Significant Part of a General Medical Center

1 Adelson Faculty of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel 2 Beilinson NEXT, Virtual Hospital, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva, Israel 3 Nursing Innovation and Patient Education, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva, Israel 4 Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel

Summary

The emergence of the hybrid hospital represents a paradigm shift, blending the physical and virtual realms to optimize healthcare delivery. Telehealth made its significant entrance into the health systems during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The use of a variety of telehealth initiatives increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 8% of primary care visits in the United States are by telehealth. Despite the rapid growth of telehealth, several barriers persist. Technological limitations, regulatory challenges, and resistance to change among both healthcare providers and patients pose hurdles to the widespread adoption of telehealth services. A significant concern in the healthcare digital evolution is the digital divide. Socioeconomic factors, such as limited access to high-speed internet and digital devices, can exacerbate existing healthcare disparities. An important part of the hybrid hospital is home hospitalization, which is an alternative to regular hospitalization. This method opens access to big, tertiary, academic centers to remote populations and advances treatment equity. Home hospitalization has become available in several countries such as Australia, China, and the United States, with impressive results for peripheral, remote populations. According to the McKenzie Report, virtual hospitals have the potential to ease busy health systems, make more hospital beds available, decrease the need for building physical hospitals, and save millions of dollars. Hybrid hospitals and telehealth are here to stay. The medical community should study the risks and opportunities and establish guidelines for proper, quality, and safe management.

Legal Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal or medical advice on any matter.
The IMA is not responsible for and expressly disclaims liability for damages of any kind arising from the use of or reliance on information contained within the site.
© All rights to information on this site are reserved and are the property of the Israeli Medical Association. Privacy policy

2 Twin Towers, 35 Jabotinsky, POB 4292, Ramat Gan 5251108 Israel