"Telehealth Allows for Flexibility and More Equity": Provider Perspectives on Telehealth for Outpatient Palliative Care for Underserved Patients.

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Telehealth for outpatient palliative care has grown rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic, yet there remain important questions about the use of telehealth for underserved patient populations in a "postpandemic" society. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To examine current perspectives from interdisciplinary providers on the use of telehealth and in-person care for outpatient palliative care among underserved patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We conducted semi-structured interviews with outpatient palliative care providers and clinic staff (<i>n</i> = 17) from one health system in the United States. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Providers endorsed tele-palliative care for underserved patients because it enhanced patient-centered care and increased equity. However, providers noted two main challenges to the use of telehealth: technological issues on the part of patients and policies around prescribing controlled substances. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Future efforts to improve tele-palliative care for underserved patients may focus on technological and institutional infrastructure to support telehealth and consider policies around prescribing controlled substances for palliative care patients.