A NARRATIVE STUDY ON TELEHEALTH ROLE IN COVID-19 PATIENT CARE

Abstract

Background: In 2021, Indonesia reported 4,248,843 COVID-19 cases with 143,578 deaths, which had a significant impact on economic, social, and public health aspects. Telehealth is a strategic solution in mitigation efforts, especially in reducing exposure risks for health workers. This review aims to evaluate the role of telehealth in improving the quality of care for COVID-19 patients. Methods: A literature search was conducted through the electronic databases PubMed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. Included studies had to clearly describe the use of telehealth in healthcare during the pandemic, be published until June 2025, be in English, and appear in a peer-reviewed journal. Study selection followed PRISMA guidelines, and quality evaluation was performed with the JBI checklist. Results: Of the 178 articles, 5 studies met the inclusion criteria. Forms of telehealth included telephone, video conference, email, patient portal, e-consultation, chatbot, GPS, and augmented and virtual reality technologies. These services enable remote diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, monitoring and provision of medical advice. Conclusion: Telehealth is proven to support the improvement of health services and maintain the safety of patients and medical personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.