Key Trends Driving Telehealth Adoption
Oleh Pylyp
I develop custom software for healthcare and medical companies. Subscribe to my HealthRun Insider newsletter
The rapid adoption of telehealth services has had a lasting impact, with telehealth usage stabilizing at about 17% of all patient visits in 2023, up from a mere 0.1% in 2019. This shift has prompted healthcare organizations to develop more strategic approaches to virtual care.
1. Addressing Healthcare Workforce Shortage
The ongoing healthcare workforce shortage has compelled health systems to find innovative solutions to meet patient needs, particularly in underserved areas. Telehealth has emerged as a critical tool, extending the reach of healthcare providers, especially in high-demand specialties like psychiatry, medical oncology, and urology.
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2. Reducing Labor Costs
The pandemic-induced surge in healthcare demand significantly increased staffing costs. Telehealth offers a cost-effective alternative, with studies showing it can reduce system-wide costs by more than 50%.
3. Increasing Access to Care
Telehealth is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap for patients in remote or underserved areas, providing access to specialized care without the need for full-time specialty providers.
4. Mitigating Provider Burnout
By alleviating the pressure on healthcare providers, telehealth can play a role in reducing burnout. However, it also introduces challenges in staffing telehealth programs with adequately trained providers.
Telehealth Technology: Challenges and Opportunities
The rush to implement telehealth during the pandemic left many health systems with a fragmented patchwork of technologies. The focus now is on consolidating these into a single, secure, and integrated system that supports scheduling, billing, electronic health records, and other workflows.
Consumer experience is also paramount. Digital natives prefer a virtual-first approach, using apps or online platforms to initiate their care journey, which may include being routed to telehealth specialists as needed.
Crafting a Telehealth Staffing Strategy
Determining the ideal use cases for telehealth is a complex process, involving detailed analysis at every touchpoint in the care journey. Once identified, hospitals must decide how to staff their telehealth services. Options include using internal physicians, leveraging provider pools from technology platforms, or engaging locum tenens agencies.
Using Internal Resources
Staffing telehealth internally ensures control over costs, training, and workflows but may strain already understaffed departments and contribute to provider burnout.
Provider Pools from Technology Platforms
This turnkey solution offers simplicity but may result in a disconnected patient experience and less control over physician quality and training. Additionally, long-term contracts can pose risks if telehealth services are not widely embraced.
Locum Tenens Staffing
Locum tenens providers offer flexibility and rapid expansion into new services and markets. While potentially more costly, this approach allows health systems to maintain control over clinical workflows and technology.
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The Five-Year Outlook for Telehealth
Telehealth adoption is expected to continue growing, with more options for virtual visits across various specialties. McKinsey & Company y estimates that over 50 million additional in-person visits per year could transition to virtual visits with equal adoption across conditions, locations, and demographics.
Virtual Care Expertise
As telehealth becomes more integrated, physicians will develop expertise in virtual care, honing their "web-side manner" and potentially leading to roles like chief virtual care officers within hospitals.
Specialist Sharing Across Health Systems
Persistent specialist shortages may drive health systems to share telehealth resources, facilitating access to in-demand physicians across different organizations.
AI and Telehealth
Artificial intelligence is poised to enhance telehealth, with AI chatbots potentially serving as initial touchpoints, streamlining patient interactions and directing them to appropriate care.
Enhancing the Virtual Patient Experience
The future success of telehealth hinges on creating a seamless patient experience from initial contact through follow-up care. Ensuring a positive virtual patient journey is crucial for the sustained adoption and effectiveness of telehealth services.
For more insights and updates on telehealth trends and innovations, stay tuned to HealthRun Insider.
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