Embedding Person Centered Care in Telemedicine: Insights from Emergency Adoption in Irish General Practice During COVID 19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic spurred rapid adoption of telemedicine in Irish general practice, even though the country entered the crisis with one of the lowest levels of digital readiness in Europe. This study examines the person-centered implications of this emergency shift through seven semi-structured interviews with general practitioners in the Cork region, analysed thematically using Orlikowski’s technology-in-practice framework and Weiner’s readiness-for-change model. Findings reveal challenges in maintaining relational trust due to the loss of non-verbal cues, risks of digital exclusion for older and paediatric patients, privacy concerns when using third-party communication platforms, and the role of psychological readiness in overcoming infrastructural gaps. Telemedicine was most often applied to chronic disease management, prescription renewals, and routine follow-ups. Sustainable integration into Irish primary care will require embedding person-centered principles into digital practice, protecting vulnerable groups from exclusion, ensuring equitable remuneration, and investing in secure, integrated telehealth infrastructure.