A Call for Responsible Antibiotic Use in the Era of Telehealth

Telehealth has revolutionized health care by making it more accessible and convenient. Although antibiotics have saved millions of lives, the growth of telehealth since the COVID-19 pandemic may be contributing to a concerning new issue: antibiotic overuse.

On The Health Care Blog, I write about how telehealth may inadvertently increase the risk of antibiotic overuse, contributing to antimicrobial resistance. Studies show higher antibiotic prescription rates during virtual consultations than during in-person visits, raising concerns about the quality of diagnoses and the influence of patient satisfaction on prescribing rates. This is a call for insurers, providers, and patients to work together to ensure antibiotics are prescribed and used responsibly.

Read my full piece here.

The post A Call for Responsible Antibiotic Use in the Era of Telehealth first appeared on The Incidental Economist.