Blog Post on Telehealth in Social Work

Reflections on Balogun et al. (2025)

In Balogun et al. (2025), the discussion of telehealth generally aligned with my expectations, especially in expanding access to care for vulnerable populations. However, I was surprised by the emphasis on how widely telehealth is now used beyond emergency care, particularly for routine care and follow-up services. I initially assumed telehealth would remain more of a backup option, but the article shows it has become more integrated into standard practice. I agreed with the authors’ view that telehealth improves access for vulnerable groups, especially those facing transportation barriers, financial limitations, or geographic isolation (Balogun et al., 2025). At the same time, I think the authors could have expanded more on digital exclusion, especially for individuals with limited internet access or low digital literacy. Another area that felt under-discussed was disability accessibility and how different impairments affect telehealth usability. In my opinion, the most significant challenge is inequality in access to reliable technology, as it directly determines who benefits from telehealth and who is left behind.

Reflections on Zhu et al. (2024)

In Zhu et al. (2024), I was not very surprised by practitioners’ mixed responses to telemedicine, since it makes sense that clinicians would have different experiences depending on their work setting and client population. The level of tele mental health use was roughly what I expected, given the rapid expansion during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, although I did not expect some practitioners to continue using it so consistently (Zhu et al., 2024). Two key factors that influenced whether practitioners intended to continue using telemedicine were the quality of client engagement and the reliability of technology during sessions. If either was inconsistent, practitioners were less likely to continue long-term use. Another important factor was whether telehealth was seen as clinically effective compared to in-person sessions. Personally, I feel that telehealth is a valuable supplement to in-person practice rather than a complete replacement. I support its use because it increases access and flexibility, but I also recognize that it may not be suitable for all clients or all types of social work intervention.

References

Balogun, A. K., Dada, S. N., Kazeem, O., & Bakare-Adesokan, K. A. (2025). Integrating telehealth services in social work practice for vulnerable groups. World J Adv Res Rev, 25(1), 1984-91.

Zhu, D., Paige, S. R., Slone, H., Gutierrez, A., Lutzky, C., Hedriana, H., … & Bunnell, B. E. (2024). Exploring telemental health practice before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of telemedicine and telecare, 30(1), 72-78.