Healthcare utilization and telemedicine: An evaluation using linked administrative data from Manitoba.

This article examines healthcare utilization patterns among patients using telemedicine compared to those receiving conventional in-person care in Manitoba, Canada, from 2007 to 2016. Using linked administrative data and a high-dimensional propensity-weighted regression model, the study finds that telemedicine users generally have higher rates of in-person ambulatory visits to primary care physicians and specialists, as well as hospitalizations, than non-users. However, among patients with frequent telemedicine encounters—particularly for specialist care—there is a significant reduction in corresponding in-person specialist visits. These findings hold across geographic distances and for patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. The study highlights the complexity of telemedicine’s impact on healthcare utilization and suggests further research is needed to assess outcomes, costs, and patient-provider preferences in evolving virtual care models.