Telehealth services have inherent limitations due to the nature of remote consultations. While telehealth is a convenient and effective means for many medical interactions, there are certain services and expectations that typically cannot be met by telehealth providers. These limitations include:

• Physical Examinations: The inability to conduct hands-on physical exams can be a significant limitation. For example, palpating (feeling) the abdomen in cases of pain, listening to the lungs in respiratory cases, or conducting neurological examinations that require physical interaction cannot be done remotely.
• Emergency Care:Telehealth is not suitable for emergency situations where immediate physical intervention is required, such as heart attacks, strokes, severe bleeding, or acute traumatic injuries.
• Diagnostic Testing:While providers can order tests like blood work or imaging studies, they cannot perform these tests during a telehealth visit. Patients must visit a laboratory or imaging center for these services.
• Controlled Substance Prescriptions:Many telehealth services are restricted from prescribing controlled substances due to regulatory limitations and the potential for abuse. This includes certain pain medications, some ADHD medications, and anxiety medications like benzodiazepines.
• Complex Chronic Disease Management:While telehealth can be used effectively for routine monitoring of chronic conditions, more complex cases requiring detailed physical assessments or multiple interventions may not be fully manageable via telehealth.
• Procedures and Surgeries:Any medical procedure or surgery that requires physical intervention cannot be performed remotely. This includes minor procedures like mole removals or more significant surgeries.
• Vaccinations and Immunizations:Telehealth providers cannot administer vaccines or immunizations, as these require in-person visits.
• Direct Emergency Interventions:In cases of acute allergic reactions, asthma attacks, or other immediate health crises, telehealth cannot provide the hands-on care needed.
• Full Sensory Diagnosis:Conditions that require a detailed sensory evaluation, such as certain ear, nose, and throat conditions or skin disorders that require close examination, may be challenging to assess accurately via video.
• Immediate Lab Result Analysis:Immediate analysis or interpretation of lab results can be challenging if the results are not electronically available during the consultation.
• Complex Mental Health Issues:While telehealth can provide support for mental health, complex psychiatric conditions that might require immediate intervention, detailed assessment, or physical health evaluations are less suited to remote care.
• Pediatric Care:Certain aspects of pediatric care, especially for younger children and infants, which require physical assessment and developmental evaluations, may not be as effective via telehealth.
• Geriatric Care:Older adults with complex health issues might require more detailed physical examinations and assessments than what telehealth can provide, especially in cases of cognitive decline or mobility issues.
• Ophthalmic Examinations:Detailed eye examinations requiring specialized equipment cannot be conducted through telehealth.
• Hearing Assessments:Accurate hearing tests that require specialized equipment are beyond the scope of telehealth services.

Understanding these limitations is crucial for patients to have realistic expectations and for providers to ensure that they refer patients for in-person care when necessary. Telehealth is a complement to traditional healthcare, not a complete substitute. Please note that this list is not all-inclusive and represents only some of the limitations of telehealth services.