TELEMEDICINE AS A SOCIO-TECHNICAL INNOVATION IN CONTEMPORARY HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS: APPLICATIONS, BENEFITS, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Joanna Gontarczyk; Paulina Makowska; Alicja Laske; Natalia Sitko; Martyna Sowa; Antoni Majda; Julia Pająk; Kacper Kucharski; Anna Kamosińska; Adam Kowal; Julia Sokołowska; Marcel Dawidowicz

doi:10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.5380

Authors

Joanna Gontarczyk University Hospital in Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7512-8853
Paulina Makowska Voivodeship Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1279-5422
Alicja Laske 4th Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic, Independent Public Health Care Centre, Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3690-4659
Natalia Sitko Lower Silesian Specialist Hospital T. Marciniak – Emergency Medicine Centre, Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4128-134X
Martyna Sowa Independent Public Healthcare Facility in Bochnia “District Hospital”, Bochnia, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7152-5787
Antoni Majda Provincial Specialist Hospital in Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4357-513X
Julia Pająk 4th Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic, Independent Care Institution, Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0882-9365
Kacper Kucharski Jan Mikulicz-Radecki University Clinical Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5709-8974
Anna Kamosińska 4th Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic, Independent Care Institution, Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0718-2112
Adam Kowal Jan Mikulicz-Radecki University Clinical Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7779-598X
Julia Sokołowska Lower Silesian Centre for Oncology, Pulmonology and Hematology, Wrocław, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7042-0348
Marcel Dawidowicz Lower Silesian Centre for Oncology, Pulmonology and Hematology, Wrocław, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5297-3507

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.5380

Keywords:

Telemedicine, Telehealth, Digital Health, Remote Patient Monitoring, Healthcare Innovation, Patient Satisfaction, Healthcare Accessibility

Abstract

Telemedicine has emerged as a transformative innovation in contemporary healthcare systems, with its rapid expansion significantly accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness, economic impact, and patient satisfaction associated with telemedicine, as well as to identify key barriers to its implementation and future development directions.

A narrative literature review was conducted based on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and empirical studies published between 2008 and 2026, covering applications in primary care, chronic disease management, mental health services, and remote patient monitoring.

The findings indicate that telemedicine provides outcomes comparable to traditional in-person care in many clinical settings, particularly in chronic disease management, where it contributes to improved health outcomes and reduced hospitalizations. Additionally, telemedicine demonstrates significant cost-saving potential and consistently high levels of patient satisfaction due to improved accessibility and convenience.

However, several challenges remain, including technological limitations, regulatory constraints, and disparities in digital access, which may hinder large-scale and equitable implementation.

The study concludes that telemedicine represents a key direction in the development of innovative healthcare systems, but its long-term success depends on addressing systemic barriers and integrating digital solutions into hybrid models of care.

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