The History of Telehealth

The origins of telehealth can be traced back to the invention of the telephone in 1876, which paved the way for innovative uses in healthcare. Just a few years later, in 1879, an article in The Lancet described how the telephone could effectively reduce unnecessary office visits for patients. Fast forward to 1925, and the cover of Science and Innovation depicted a visionary doctor diagnosing a patient remotely via radio, even imagining a future where video examinations could occur over distances, as conceptualized by Dr. Hugo Gernback. Talk about having a vision into the future.

In 1959, the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute began implementing early video conferencing technology to facilitate group therapy, long-term therapy sessions, consultations, and training for medical students at the state hospital in Norfolk, setting a precedent for remote healthcare services. The 1960s saw NASA engaging in research aimed at incorporating telemedicine to provide healthcare for their astronauts, further expanding the boundaries of medical care beyond traditional settings.

By 1969, Massachusetts General Hospital was offering consultations to patients at a health clinic in Logan International Airport, a practice that became more widespread throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The dawn of the internet in 1989 marked another significant milestone, as its privatization and development in the 1990s substantially enhanced telehealth capabilities. During this decade, telepsychiatry began to flourish globally, particularly in Australia, effectively reaching individuals who faced geographical challenges in accessing mental health services.

Moving into the 2000s, the Veterans Health Administration adopted telepsychiatry, legitimizing and popularizing the practice among clinicians and patients alike. In 2002, Teladoc emerged as one of the first telemedicine companies, marking a significant step in the industry. The release of Skype in 2003 brought video chat to mainstream audiences, further integrating virtual communication into daily life. Several other audio-visual platforms followed, obviously.

Throughout the 2010s, telepsychiatry evolved to include various forms of communication, such as text messaging, online chat rooms, and video calls, enhancing accessibility for patients. In 2013, Zoom was launched, though it and other platforms initially faced challenges with security and privacy.

Just a few years later, in 2019, the world faced the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly increased the demand for telehealth solutions as social distancing measures became a necessity. With the onset of COVID and the increased need for security, these platforms have sense become much more secure and much easier for providers to use to reach clients in more remote areas. Now, there are many ways providers can contact clients. The landscape has shifted significantly, with upwards of 5% of people still using telehealth platforms to access their care. What does that mean for those of us conducting telehealth assessments? It means there are more doors open to help more people, if you are thoughtful, educated, and aware of the strengths and limitations that such an assessment can have. We still have to follow legal and ethical guidance and follow our professional standards, but we can conduct reliable assessments through the screen. Just the way Dr. Gernbeck envisioned 100 years ago – before we even had conceptualized the internet.

Telehealth Assessment: Ethical and Technical Pro’s and Con’s

October 6, 2025, 3:00 – 6:00 PM EDTZoom Workshop

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