Telemed J E Health. 2026 Jan 18:15305627261416295. doi: 10.1177/15305627261416295. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The use of telemedicine, including direct-to-consumer telemedicine, has increased significantly, yet there are concerns about the quality and safety of care accessed via this model. The current study retrospectively analyzed survey data from individuals about their perceptions of the efficacy, safety, and quality of care they accessed through a telemedicine platform.
METHODS: An online survey, originally intended for the purposes of quality improvement, was sent to individuals who had accessed treatment via a national telemedicine platform. The survey, made available between June 30, 2025 and July 3, 2025, consisted of 22 questions that queried individuals about their experience with the platform. Data were de-identified and retrospectively analyzed, with descriptive statistics used to report on the number and percentage of participants who indicated agreement with survey items.
RESULTS: The survey was completed by 2,399 participants. Overall, participants (>80%) reported a positive experience pertaining to the quality and safety of care accessed via the platform. The majority (>90%) of participants reported a positive experience with the online clinical intake and with providers on the platform. Participants consistently (>90%) rated their overall experience with the platform as equal to or better than prior in-person health care experiences. There was variability with regard to participants’ awareness of specific safety practices implemented by the platform.
DISCUSSIONS: Our findings indicate that the majority of individuals who engaged with the telemedicine platform had positive perceptions of the efficacy, quality, and safety of the care they received and viewed the experience as rivaling care they had previously received in an in-person setting.
PMID:41797533 | DOI:10.1177/15305627261416295
