Access, Privacy, and Technological Challenges of Delivering Cardiology Care via Telehealth: A Systematic Literature Review

The use of telehealth has emerged as a transformative force in healthcare, promising to expand access and reduce costs across various medical domains. The COVID‐19 pandemic catalyzed a rapid and extensive adoption of telehealth, shedding light on both its challenges and opportunities. As the telehealth landscape evolves, individual medical specialties grapple with unique obstacles. This review aims to synthesize recent literature focusing on the implementation of telehealth in cardiology, elucidating the specialty‐specific challenges encountered. Our analysis reveals several recurring hurdles that cardiologists encounter when deploying telehealth for cardiovascular care. Foremost among these is the pervasive issue of technology deficiencies. Cardiologists frequently encounter usability concerns, as telehealth platforms may lack user‐friendliness and intuitive interfaces. Additionally, questions regarding the accuracy and precision of diagnostic tools within telehealth systems persist, necessitating further technological refinement. Furthermore, a common thread in the literature pertains to the inadequacy of mechanisms safeguarding patient data, which poses a considerable impediment to telehealth's progress. Robust data protection measures are imperative to engender trust among both patients and healthcare providers. Socio‐economic disparities emerge as an additional challenge, impacting access and utilization of telehealth services in cardiology. Addressing these disparities through policy measures and equitable resource allocation is essential to ensure that the benefits of telehealth are accessible to all segments of society. This review underscores the multifaceted challenges faced by cardiologists in the realm of telehealth.