In 2021, strong ongoing uptake, excellent consumer perception, and tangible investment in this field will all contribute to telehealth’s continued growth. The following is a list of five hospitals and health systems that have recently launched or announced new telehealth programs.
- Virtual care: While on one hand, Oklahoma Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City launched a virtual urgent care program, Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health on the other has partnered with TytoCare to enable remote medical exams with a handheld exam kit provided to the patient.
- Virtual visits: Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger launched virtual visits for conditions generally seen by its urgent care clinics. Patients will be able to have their symptoms assessed, get referrals and prescriptions for sinus infections, urinary tract infections, the flu and more.
- Virtual delivery: The health system also launched ConnectedCare365, a virtual care delivery platform for patients with chronic diseases that use remote monitoring, artificial intelligence, and data analysis tools to improve patient outcomes. ConnectedCare365 allows patients to take control of their health by monitoring their weight, blood pressure, glucose, and other metrics using a smartphone app.
- Virtual accessibility: New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health launched an on-demand emergency room program, allowing patients to access physicians in the middle of the night. Each call is answered by a certified paramedic, who determines the level of care that’s required and makes sure that an ambulance is not needed.
- Virtual transport: Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare bolstered its telehealth and digital care services by purchasing Classic Air Medical, an air medical transport company serving patients in eight states. As caregivers in rural hospitals use telehealth, Classic will make it easier to transport patients to the nearest medical facilities that are best equipped if the patient needs higher acuity and more specialized care.
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