Telemedicine provision of medication abortion

Telemedicine, the provision of health care at a distance through technology, can expand access to high-quality care by increasing availability, reducing costs, and offering a patient-centered approach. Many health care services, such as radiology, mental health care, and emergency medicine, have expanded their reach through telemedicine. In 2011, Ibis launched a program of work to evaluate the use and safety of telemedicine for medication abortion services. To date, this work has aimed to better understand the use of this emerging technology and its potential to transform abortion care. This brief describes findings regarding the safety, effectiveness, and satisfaction with telemedicine for medication abortion, as well as potential impacts of this model on abortion accessibility.