THE ROLE OF TELEHEALTH IN HEALTH INFORMATICS

Abstract

This study analyzed the role of telehealth in health informatics, highlighting its contributions to access, efficiency, and quality of health services, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research sought to answer the following question: How does telehealth contribute to access, efficiency, and quality of health services, and what are the main challenges for its large-scale implementation? The objective was to understand how this technological tool impacts the provision of medical services, highlighting its potential and limitations. The methodology used was exclusively bibliographic, with a qualitative approach. Academic articles, institutional reports, and specialized publications were analyzed, prioritizing sources that addressed the use of telehealth in the context of health informatics. Data collection was carried out in databases such as Scielo and Google Scholar, with keywords related to the topic. During the development, the main benefits of telehealth were discussed, including increased access to medical services, continuity of care for patients with chronic conditions, and optimization of resources. Challenges were also analyzed, such as technological inequalities, regulatory gaps, and the need for professional training. In the final considerations, it was concluded that telehealth is an indispensable tool for the modernization of health services, but requires investments in infrastructure, digital inclusion, and improvement of public policies to maximize its potential.