Which Patients Do You Think Would Most Benefit From Telehealth?

• By Sakshi Thakur
• 09-04-2025
• Software

Not too long ago, “telehealth” sounded like one of those buzzwords you’d hear at a health tech conference, right next to “blockchain for hospitals” and “smart toothbrushes.” Then, almost overnight, it became how millions of people saw their doctor. From kitchen tables. In sweatpants. With a cat walking across the keyboard.

But now that the hype has settled and the world isn’t in full lockdown mode, we’ve got a more interesting question on our hands: who actually benefits most from telehealth? Is it just a convenience for the tech-savvy? Or is there more to it?

Because let’s be real. Virtual care isn’t the answer to everything. You can’t reset a dislocated shoulder over Zoom. But there’s a huge slice of the patient population that’s not just getting by with telehealth, they’re actually thriving with it.

So if you’ve ever wondered where telehealth really shines (and where it doesn’t), stick around. We’re diving into the types of patients who benefit most, and why it’s about more than just skipping the waiting room.

Why Telehealth Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All?

Here’s the thing. Telehealth sounds great on paper. Video calls, no commute, quicker access to care. What’s not to love?

But not every patient is wired the same way, and not every health concern plays nicely with a screen. Some folks need hands-on exams. Others struggle with tech. And let’s not forget the patients who still think "Zoom" is something cars do.

Telehealth works best when it fits the patient’s actual needs, not just because it’s convenient or trending. It’s a tool, not a replacement for care itself. Like any tool, it works wonders in the right hands and for the right job.

So before we get into who really benefits, it’s worth understanding what telehealth actually does well, and where it tends to fall short.

Patients Who Would Most Benefit From Telehealth

Let’s take a look at who’s getting the most out of it.

1. Patients Managing Chronic Conditions

Think of people living with diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, or heart disease. These are conditions that don’t go away. They require regular monitoring, prescription adjustments, and check-ins that, frankly, don’t always need a trip to the clinic.

Telehealth lets these patients stay on top of their care without constantly rearranging their lives. A ten-minute blood pressure review over video? Much easier than half a day off work and a waiting room marathon.

Plus, with remote monitoring tools like glucose sensors or blood pressure cuffs that sync with apps doctors can get real-time data and tweak treatment without the patient ever leaving home.

It’s not just convenient. It’s proactive, consistent care that actually fits into someone’s real life.

2. Patients Needing Mental Health or Behavioral Health Support

If there’s one area where telehealth has completely flipped the script, it’s mental health care.

For patients dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, or substance use disorders, virtual sessions can make all the difference. There’s no sitting in traffic, no awkward waiting room moments, and no pressure to explain why you’re there. Just log in, talk, log out.

For many, that lowered barrier is exactly what gets them to show up and keep showing up. It creates a space that feels safer, more private, and often more consistent.

And consistency matters here. Mental health treatment isn’t a one-and-done. It’s built on trust, time, and showing up regularly. Telehealth helps make that easier, especially for people juggling work, caregiving, or just trying to hold it together.

Also worth noting: therapists and psychiatrists aren’t always easy to find in certain areas. Virtual care fills that gap and gives patients access they wouldn’t otherwise have.

3. Rural and Underserved Populations

Let’s be honest. If you live in the middle of nowhere, “seeing a specialist” often translates to “drive two hours, wait three, drive two more.” And that’s assuming there’s even a provider in range.

For rural patients and for people in underserved urban areas, telehealth can feel like the first time the system is actually working for them. It opens doors to care that was previously too far, too expensive, or simply unavailable.

Need a dermatologist? A behavioral health consult? A follow-up with a cardiologist who’s 120 miles away? With telehealth, that’s all on the table now.

It’s not just about convenience here. It’s about access. Real, equitable access that doesn’t punish people for their zip code.

And when you combine that with mobile clinics or community health programs that offer telehealth support, you start to see real change, not just in individual outcomes, but in entire populations.

4. Seniors With Mobility Challenges

Getting to the doctor isn’t always a quick trip when you’re older. Add in mobility issues, transportation hurdles, or the classic “three appointments in one week” routine, and suddenly, care becomes a full-time job.

Telehealth cuts through all of that.

For seniors who just need a medication review, a follow-up chat, or to loop in a caregiver on their treatment plan, virtual visits are a breath of fresh air. No long car rides. No waiting room confusion. Just care that comes to them without all the friction.

Even better, when telehealth is paired with remote monitoring tools (like fall detectors or heart rate trackers), doctors can keep tabs on a patient’s health from afar. That means more proactive care and fewer emergency trips to the hospital.

Yes, some seniors struggle with tech but when the platform is simple and the support is there, many actually prefer the ease of it. Especially when it means staying independent longer.

5. Busy Families and Pediatric Care

If you’ve ever tried wrangling a sick toddler into a car seat, you know exactly why parents love telehealth. Add siblings, work schedules, and the fact that kids always seem to spike a fever at 8 p.m., and you’ve got a perfect storm of chaos.

Telehealth brings sanity back into the equation.

Parents can hop on a quick video call for common issues like rashes, ear infections, coughs, or follow-ups without disrupting the whole household. No need to drag a cranky kid across town just to be told, “It’s viral. Fluids and rest.”

It also helps with things like developmental check-ins, mental health consultations for teens, or managing chronic conditions like asthma, all from home, often with less stress for the child and the caregiver.

For pediatricians, this flexibility means more touchpoints with families and faster response times when something’s off. And for families, it means fewer missed workdays and a lot less logistical juggling.

6. Patients With Limited Transportation or Physical Disabilities

For some patients, just getting to the clinic is a barrier. Not because they don’t want care, but because the logistics are exhausting. Wheelchair users, individuals with neurological conditions, or those recovering from surgery often face more than just traffic. We’re talking about arranging rides, managing equipment, and navigating buildings that aren’t always as “accessible” as advertised.

Telehealth helps level the playing field.

Instead of spending hours planning a trip for a 15-minute appointment, patients can connect with their provider from wherever they’re comfortable. That means more consistent care, fewer missed visits, and way less physical strain.

For people living with long-term disabilities, virtual care also gives them more control over how and when they interact with the healthcare system. And that autonomy? It’s a big deal.

In many cases, it’s not just about convenience, it’s about preserving energy, dignity, and quality of life.

7. Postpartum Patients and New Mothers

Those first few weeks after childbirth? A beautiful, chaotic blur of feeding schedules, sleep deprivation, and recovery. For new moms, the idea of getting dressed, packing a diaper bag, and heading to a clinic for a six-week checkup can feel like climbing Everest.

Telehealth makes postpartum care more realistic.

From wound healing check-ins to breastfeeding support, mental health screenings, or just asking “Is this normal?”, new moms can talk to their provider without leaving the couch (or putting the baby down). It also gives providers a chance to catch early signs of postpartum depression or complications that might otherwise go unmentioned.

It’s not just convenient, it’s care that adapts to one of life’s most demanding transitions.

8. Patients Needing Follow-Up After Hospital Discharge

Hospital discharges can be confusing. You leave with a stack of paperwork, maybe a new prescription or two, and a head full of questions that didn’t hit you until you got home.

That’s where telehealth steps in, as the bridge between “you’re good to go” and actually being good to go.

Virtual follow-ups make it easy for patients to check in with their care team, review medications, clarify next steps, and flag any concerns early, before they become readmitted. This is especially helpful for patients managing complex recovery plans, multiple medications, or those who don’t have immediate support at home.

Hospitals love it, too. Fewer readmissions. Better outcomes. And patients feel seen, not just discharged and forgotten.

When In-Person Care Is Still Necessary

Let’s be honest — not everything can be done over Wi-Fi. For all its benefits, telehealth isn’t a full substitute for hands-on, in-person care. There are times when a screen just won’t cut it.

Here’s where virtual care steps aside:

• Physical exams and diagnostics: Some symptoms need to be felt, not just described. Think joint pain, abdominal tenderness, heart murmurs. All these symptoms you can’t diagnose through a webcam.
• Imaging and lab work: Need an X-ray? An MRI? A blood panel or throat swab? That’s equipment you’re not keeping at home. In-person visits are non-negotiable here.
• Procedures and treatments: Whether it’s a biopsy, a wound dressing, or a cortisone shot, these aren’t things you can DIY on a video call. Some care requires trained hands in the room, not on a screen.
• Emergencies and acute situations: Telehealth has limits. Chest pain, seizures, signs of a stroke, high fever in a baby, if it’s serious or escalating fast, get to the ER. Don’t waste time logging into a portal.
• Post-surgical follow-ups: Some recovery check-ins can be virtual, but often, the provider needs to see the incision site, assess range of motion, or physically check healing. No filter can help there.
• Non-verbal patients or those with complex needs: Patients with cognitive impairments, language barriers, or certain disabilities may struggle to communicate virtually. In-person visits provide more context, cues, and clarity.
• Patients uncomfortable with technology: If using telehealth creates more stress than relief, it defeats the purpose. For some, a face-to-face conversation still feels safer, more personal, and more effective.

Final Thoughts

Telehealth isn’t about replacing doctors with apps or turning care into a checklist. It’s about meeting patients where they are, literally and figuratively.

For people managing chronic conditions, juggling parenting duties, living miles from the nearest clinic, or facing mobility challenges, virtual care isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s what makes consistent, quality healthcare actually possible in any location.

At the same time, it’s not the answer to every problem. There’s still huge value in showing up in person when touch, tools, or nuance are needed. The real magic? Knowing when to go virtual and when to go physical and giving patients the choice. But for offering telehealth service you need a robust telehealth app that is customized to your requirements. For example, if you are located in Canada, you need custom software development Canada services to develop a telehealth app tailored to your specific needs.

Because in the end, healthcare should bend around people’s lives and their specific healthcare requirements. Not the other way around.

FAQs

1. Is telehealth as effective as in-person care?

Depends on the situation. For routine check-ins, mental health support, and chronic disease management, it’s often just as effective, sometimes even better. But for physical exams or anything requiring hands-on care, in-person still wins.

2. Who benefits most from telehealth?

Anyone who struggles with access, time, mobility, or logistics. Think: people with chronic conditions, mental health needs, those in rural areas, seniors, busy parents, and patients with disabilities or transportation barriers.

3. Is telehealth covered by insurance?

In many cases, yes, especially post-2020 when more insurers began supporting virtual care. That said, it varies by provider, plan, and location, so it’s worth checking the fine print.

4. What kind of appointments work best virtually?

• Medication follow-ups
• Therapy and counseling
• Chronic condition management
• Minor illness check-ins (cold, cough, rash)
• Lifestyle or nutrition coaching
• Lab result reviews

5. What if I’m not tech-savvy?

No shame in that. Many platforms are designed to be user-friendly, and healthcare providers usually offer help setting things up. Some even have support staff who walk patients through their first appointment.