Hepatology in the Digital Era: A Review of Telehealth Care for Liver Disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Telehealth has become an integral component of healthcare delivery in the US. While telehealth has been utilized within Hepatology for decades for HCV through Project ECHO and adapted by the VA, the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed an unprecedented expansion of telehealth. This review examines the evolution, benefits, challenges, and future implications of telehealth in Hepatology.

RECENT FINDINGS

Telehealth can improve access to care for underserved patient populations and provide continuity of care for chronic liver disease and liver transplant patients. Studies suggest that telehealth can deliver equivalent quality of care to in-person visits with high satisfaction rates among patients and providers. However, there are barriers to telehealth including disparities in technology access, limitations in quality of virtual encounters, and limited insurance policies. However, many questions remain. As Hepatology enters the digital era, telehealth holds promise for enhancing care delivery, but its integration must be guided by evidence-based practices.