Unveiling the Adoption and Barriers of Telemedicine in US Hospitals: A Comprehensive Analysis (2017–2022)

Telemedicine has become crucial, especially during COVID-19. This study examines telemedicine adoption trends and institutional challenges in US hospitals from 2017 to 2022, using data from AHA surveys. It includes a diverse national sample of hospitals, focusing on telemedicine encounters, service offerings, and electronic health information exchange challenges.Key findings include a 75% increase in telemedicine encounters from 2020 to 2021 and a rise in hospitals offering telemedicine from 46% in 2017 to 72% in 2021. Larger, nonprofit, and teaching hospitals led in adoption, with no significant urban-rural disparity. However, 25% of hospitals cited EHR vendors as barriers to information exchange, and cost remained a primary challenge. The study highlights the need for policy interventions to enhance telemedicine’s potential.