Telemedicine was widely used by Americans with MS during the pandemic, and many were happy with the results, according to findings published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Michelle Chen, PhD, and colleagues used online survey data collected between September and October 2020 to assess rates of healthcare disruptions—such as missing or canceling appointments and experiencing delays—and the use of telehealth for medical and mental healthcare among people with and without MS. Rates of telehealth appointments were nearly twice as high as in-person visits for medical care and more than five times higher than in-person visits for mental healthcare. People with MS were more likely to use telehealth services than those without MS. “Because many individuals with MS have physical disability that may make travel more difficult, temporary expansions of telehealth coverage should be made permanent after the pandemic in order to expand access and reduce healthcare disparities,” Dr. Chen said.
