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Integrating virtual care in healthcare practices has the potential for high investments by expanding the client base and catering to older and chronic disease patients.
FREMONT, CA: Technology for virtual health emerged many years ago, but it has had a low implementation rate. Primary care and behavioral health visits decreased compared to surgical and procedural specialties. The gap offers opportunities for adopting virtual health practices like remote monitoring. Remote monitoring can allow more patients convenient access to primary and specialty care interactions. Client base: Institutions are making strategic investments with providers of virtual care. Virtual consults can help increase the client base if customers pay lower costs, creating demand while the quality remains the same. Consults are held on virtual platforms that access clients through regional and international borders. New markets: Providers are considering providing virtual health services to health care in rural areas. A specialist can hold consultations with local healthcare systems and provide tele-ICU coverage. Older patients and chronic disease: In addition to serving the needs of a broader consumer base, virtual health can provide an opportunity to improve care and healthcare value for older patients. In a 2020 survey, 48 percent of those 50 and older preferred virtual care—the valued convenience of accessing healthcare from home. Access to a doctor is faster evading waiting periods and access to care during off hours. Chronic care management accounts for 90 percent of healthcare spending and involves resource-intensive support. The convenience of virtual care plays a role in optimizing growth opportunities as consumers demand more accessible care solutions. Stakeholders can invest more in virtual health platforms as pressure grows to assimilate automation, boost the quality of care, and decrease resources. Virtual health has potential beyond geographical limits and new markets. Providers can integrate virtual care technologies with other applications like tele-ICU and post-acute care integration. To maximize growth, reduce dependence on on-sight equipment, and promote at-home care enhanced with virtual solutions.
