Joseph Papin, MD, on When Telehealth Adds Complexity Instead of Reducing It
Telehealth is often framed as a solution to healthcare inefficiency—improving access, reducing costs, and streamlining care delivery. In practice, the impact is more uneven. For Joseph Papin, MD , the issue isn’t whether telehealth works. It’s whether it integrates. When it doesn’t, it can introduce new layers of operational and clinical complexity rather than removing them. Convenience at the Surface, Fragmentation Beneath Telehealth expands access, but it doesn’t automatically align with how care is coordinated. In many systems, virtual care operates alongside, not within, existing clinical workflows. This creates fragmentation: Separate documentation systems Disconnected patient records Limited visibility across providers In fact, telehealth platforms often fail to sync with core electronic health record systems, meaning critical clinical data from virtual visits may not be accessible to primary care providers. From an operational standpoint, this turns what should be a seamles...