How does the use of VPN technology benefit patient care in telehealth?

The use of VPN (Virtual Private Network) technology is particularly beneficial in telehealth as it ensures a secure and private connection for sensitive data exchanged between healthcare providers and patients. This is critical in maintaining patient confidentiality and complying with regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which mandates the protection of personal health information.

When healthcare providers use a VPN, the data transmitted during telehealth sessions is encrypted, which protects it from unauthorized access or breaches during transmission. This secure channel is essential for safeguarding sensitive patient information while using telehealth services, thereby fostering trust between patients and providers and ensuring that health data remains private.

The other options, while relevant aspects of telehealth, do not directly address the primary advantage provided by VPN technology in the context of patient care. Enhancing video conferencing capabilities, reducing costs, or automating appointment scheduling are important features of telehealth, but they do not relate specifically to the secure management and protection of patient data that a VPN offers.