Which statement best describes how telehealth supports patient care?

Which statement best describes how telehealth supports patient care?

• A. It increases time in the clinic only
• B. It eliminates the need for an EHR
• C. It prevents data sharing between facilities
• D. It provides for data transmission of patient information to receiving facilities

Answer: (D)

Telehealth supports patient care by enabling secure transmission and sharing of patient information between providers and facilities. This lets the receiving facility access current data—such as history, labs, imaging, and vitals—before or during a transfer, which leads to faster, more informed decisions and better care coordination across sites. Other statements don’t fit because telehealth does not imply only more time spent in the clinic; it often reduces travel and wait times. It does not eliminate the need for an electronic health record; telehealth activities are documented within the EHR and rely on it for continuity of care. It also promotes, not prevents, data sharing between facilities, since sharing health information is a key benefit of telehealth-enabled communication.

Telehealth supports patient care by enabling secure transmission and sharing of patient information between providers and facilities. This lets the receiving facility access current data—such as history, labs, imaging, and vitals—before or during a transfer, which leads to faster, more informed decisions and better care coordination across sites.

Other statements don’t fit because telehealth does not imply only more time spent in the clinic; it often reduces travel and wait times. It does not eliminate the need for an electronic health record; telehealth activities are documented within the EHR and rely on it for continuity of care. It also promotes, not prevents, data sharing between facilities, since sharing health information is a key benefit of telehealth-enabled communication.