Telehealth lets people connect to physicians via video and phone calls instead of office visits for basic services such as assessing symptoms, diagnosing conditions, prescribing medications, following up with patients and delivering test results.

What are the main challenges to telehealth implementation?

Internet access, lack of technology infrastructure or technical knowledge, costs and language barriers may limit telehealth access for some patients. Telehealth services must be protected from cyberattacks and follow HIPAA guidelines. Laws, licensing and insurance limitations may restrict how telehealth services operate, where doctors can offer services and whether insurance covers virtual visits. Some patients may not trust virtual healthcare delivery and some providers may also prefer in-person patient visits.

How can we improve telehealth implementation?

Set specific goals and consider using existing frameworks for telehealth implementation, such as CFIR. Work to make internet service more accessible in rural and remote areas. Use web security tools and protocols and ensure staff are trained on them. Tell patients about the telehealth option and encourage them to use it. Train all staff in telehealth technology and how to interact with patients virtually. Help create policy that ensures Medicare, Medicaid and insurance will cover telehealth. Get patient feedback on the telehealth experience and improve services based on this feedback.

Implementing Telehealth Services: Challenges and Solutions

Published: September 17th, 2025

Category: Industry

Remember when doctors made house calls? Well, a new type of house call is here. Telehealth services are virtual doctor visits made via smartphone apps like Doctor on Demand or via computer or phone. Telehealth visits make it easy for patients to enjoy basic medical services. But questions around access, privacy, security, insurance and acceptance pose challenges to its widespread adoption.

Let’s explore how telehealth works and what’s needed to overcome these barriers.

What Are the Benefits of Telehealth?

Telehealth offers many advantages of traditional, in-person medical appointments:

Doctors and nurses can assess symptoms, diagnose illnesses, follow up with patients, provide test results and prescribe medications remotely.
Patients can complete physical therapy, occupational therapy and counseling sessions.
Patients can be seen from their home or another convenient location, saving them the drive and waiting room delays.
Patients with disabilities, elderly and very ill patients can secure care without a physically taxing office visit.

Challenges to Telehealth Implementation

While the technology has many benefits, there are limits to what a physician can do via telehealth. They can’t fully examine a patient, take blood or urine samples or administer shots. There are also many barriers to implementation. Let’s highlight a few now:

Unequal Access

Internet service may be limited in rural and other areas.
Some facilities lack the funding for telehealth equipment and technology.
Patients and practices may lack the technical tools or knowledge to use telehealth services.
Providers may not be able to serve patients who speak different languages.

Cybersecurity and Privacy Risks

Internet-based services can be hacked, putting patients’ private data at risk.
Providers must ensure their telehealth services, like all their services, are HIPAA compliant.

Regulation, Coverage and Licensure

Congress temporarily eased telehealth regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic, but these changes might not last.
Coverage by Medicaid, Medicare and insurance companies may vary or end.
State licensing laws limit where doctors can provide virtual care.

Negative Attitudes Among Patients and Providers

Some demographics, including older adults, may doubt the value of virtual healthcare and prefer in-person visits.
Providers may be reluctant to try new healthcare delivery methods.

Solutions for Telehealth Expansion

The news isn’t all bad! Telehealth is a convenient and popular option, and there are ways to make telehealth widely accepted and accessible. Here are a few:

Planning

Consider the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), used recently to explore what’s driving telehealth growth. It’s also important to have a clear set of goals in mind to guide telehealth implementation.

Technology Infrastructure Expansion

Advocate for broad, affordable internet connectivity in rural areas.

Security and Privacy Measures

Implement measures that protect networks and all patient data from cyberattacks and educate staff on how to maintain patient privacy online.

Patient Awareness and Engagement

Display and provide materials promoting the telehealth option in offices. Also, have staff encourage patients to schedule telehealth follow-up visits, if feasible.

Training

Ensure clinical and clerical staff understand how to properly use technology to interact with patients.

Coverage

Influence policy for Medicare, Medicaid and insurance coverage of telehealth, as few patients will pay for the convenience out of pocket.

Patient Feedback

Survey patients about their telehealth experience and adapt services based on their feedback.

The Link Between Implementation Science and Telehealth

We know what you’re thinking: No one person does all this, right? Right! Policy and advocacy are an entirely different skill set than patient education and staff training. But one thread connects them all: implementation science.

Implementation science professionals move evidence-based interventions from testing and planning stages to real-world solutions. Though some work out of a medical practice, many bring awareness and acceptance of telehealth in nonprofit, advocacy and governmental organizations such as the:

American Telemedicine Association (ATA)
National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (NCTRC)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Implementation scientists may work with public health officials to shape and implement beneficial policies. Their contributions to the healthcare field — in a variety of professional roles — are enormous.

An Implementation Science and Telehealth Success Story

One standout telehealth success was a project that brought teledermatology to veterans in rural areas. Instead of traveling long distances, patients could simply email photos of their skin concerns to select VA clinics and receive diagnoses remotely.

By the end of this two-year study, teledermatology visits at those clinics jumped by over 42%, beating the national average by 33%. How did they do it? Using smart, practical strategies like:

Getting providers to talk directly with patients about how teledermatology works and why it’s useful.
Securing buy-in from top leadership.
Training dermatology residents to read and interpret images.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is telehealth?
Telehealth lets people connect to physicians via video and phone calls instead of office visits for basic services such as assessing symptoms, diagnosing conditions, prescribing medications, following up with patients and delivering test results.
What are the main challenges to telehealth implementation?
- Internet access, lack of technology infrastructure or technical knowledge, costs and language barriers may limit telehealth access for some patients.
- Telehealth services must be protected from cyberattacks and follow HIPAA guidelines.
- Laws, licensing and insurance limitations may restrict how telehealth services operate, where doctors can offer services and whether insurance covers virtual visits.
- Some patients may not trust virtual healthcare delivery and some providers may also prefer in-person patient visits.
How can we improve telehealth implementation?
- Set specific goals and consider using existing frameworks for telehealth implementation, such as CFIR.
- Work to make internet service more accessible in rural and remote areas.
- Use web security tools and protocols and ensure staff are trained on them.
- Tell patients about the telehealth option and encourage them to use it.
- Train all staff in telehealth technology and how to interact with patients virtually.
- Help create policy that ensures Medicare, Medicaid and insurance will cover telehealth.
- Get patient feedback on the telehealth experience and improve services based on this feedback.

Build Implementation Science Expertise With an Online Certificate Program

You can help implement telehealth services and other critical interventions. UF’s online Graduate Certificate in Implementation Science will get you started.

See program details now.

Sources:
https://telehealth.hhs.gov/patients/why-use-telehealth
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8859483
https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/28414
https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/telehealth-policy/telehealth-policy-updates
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39310647

University of Florida

Implementation Science

College of Medicine