More antibiotics prescribed through telemedicine than in-person doctor visits

Children who have telemedicine visits with their physicians are more likely to be prescribed antibiotics than children who see doctors in person, according to a new study. Looking at more than half a million telemedicine, urgent care, and primary care physician visits using insurance claims data between 2015-2016, researchers found that 52% of children who had telemedicine visits for a nonchronic respiratory illness were likely to be prescribed antibiotics, compared to 42% of those who visited with urgent care physicians and 31% who visited their PCPs. Those who met with physicians virtually were also less likely to be prescribed antibiotics based on clinical guidelines than in-person visitors.