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News
Tele-ID holds its own against in-person care. A Duke University study found that patients who received telehealth infectious disease consultations had virtually identical outcomes — including hospital stays, readmission rates, and mortality — compared to those seen in person. The findings come amid a growing shortage of ID physicians across the U.S.
A new study from Duke University, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, found that telehealth infectious disease (tele-ID) consultations produce outcomes comparable to traditional in-person visits. Researchers analyzed 3,223 patients across two North Carolina community hospitals between 2022 and 2025, with one hospital switching exclusively to tele-ID mid-study while the other served as a control.
Across every major metric — length of stay, 30-day readmission, and mortality — the two approaches were essentially neck and neck. The one notable difference: tele-ID patients received more imaging (CT scans, MRIs), likely because clinicians couldn't physically examine patients remotely.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With nearly 80% of U.S. counties lacking a single ID physician, tele-ID could be a critical tool for expanding access to specialized care. Researchers also suggest that offering tele-ID roles could make the specialty more attractive to physicians in training — a potential win for a field struggling with recruitment.
