We are combining our Telemedicine and Virtual Care reports into Telemedicine 2020. We are seeking out the latest developments around Telemedicine. How is telemedicine used to benefit patients and care givers? What are the newest innovations in telemedicine technology? How telehealth and virtual care fit into the realm of Telemedicine.
Industry News:
Impresiv Health and Bluestream Health Announce Strategic Partnership to Provide Telehealth Services
Impresiv Health (@impresivhealth) and Bluestream Health (@bluestream) are pleased to announce they have entered into a strategic partnership, combining Impresiv Health’s industry-leading consulting services for payer organizations with Bluestream’s HIPAA-Compliant telehealth platform offering best-in-market video connectivity along with clinical workflows, patient and expert queue management, and real-time reporting.
UnitedHealthcare, Humana & more: 7 payers expanding telehealth strategies
Fueled by the acceleration of digital health and telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, several health insurers have launched new initiatives to expand virtual care for members. Becker’s Hospital Review (@beckershr) lists seven payers who expanded telehealth initiatives or recently had new strategies go into effect this year.
Survey: Healthcare Industry Will Continue to Embrace Digital Healthcare Platforms in 2021
Noteworth (@noteworth_), a virtual care delivery platform, released findings of their latest survey highlighting the ways in which digital medicine platforms helped organizations navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the more than 250 medical professionals surveyed, two-thirds (68%) believe that healthcare organizations will continue engaging with patients via digital healthcare platforms post-pandemic.
Velatura Public Benefit Corporation Partners with Care Convene
Velatura Public Benefit Corporation, a company providing HIT and HIE consulting, development, implementation and operations services in states across the nation, announced that it has increased its partnership with Care Convene, a Michigan-based virtual health platform.
Sesame partners with NantHealth to help providers increase revenue and better serve patients
NantHealth, Inc. (@NantHealth) a provider of enterprise solutions that help businesses transform complex data into actionable insights, announced a collaboration with Sesame (@Sesamecare), a direct-to-patient healthcare platform offering affordable prices for in-person and virtual care.
Automated Virtual Care Platform Conversa Health Expands Series B to $20 Million
Conversa Health (@conversahealth), a virtual care and triage platform, has expanded its Series B financing to $20 million during a year in which the company experienced sixfold growth of its platform. With the closing of the Series B round, Conversa has raised a total of $34 million.
ATA Supports The Bipartisan Protecting Access To Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act Of 2021 Reintroduced By The Congressional Telehealth Caucus
The American Telemedicine Association (@AmericanTelemed) voiced its strong support of the Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act of 2021, which was reintroduced this week by Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05), Co-Chair of the Congressional Telehealth Caucus, along with caucus Co-Chairs Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-06), Rep. Peter Welch (VT-AL), and Rep. Bill Johnson (OH-06), and caucus member Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-06). This bipartisan bill would permanently ensure access to telehealth after the COVID-19 public health emergency by eliminating restrictions on telehealth in Medicare beneficiaries and requiring a study on its use during the pandemic.
Vuzix Expands Available Smart Glasses-Based Healthcare Offerings with the Addition of Hippo Technologies Solution to Help Service Medical Professionals and Organizations Around the World
Vuzix® Corporation (@Vuzix), a supplier of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technology and products, announced it is collaborating with Hippo Technologies, Inc. (@myhippolife), a virtual care company delivering solutions for healthcare and medical education, to connect global surgeons and healthcare providers with vital medical networks and virtual care services with Vuzix M400 and M4000 Smart Glasses.
Product News:
SOC Telemed Launches New telePulmonology Service Line
SOC Telemed, Inc. (@SOCTelemed), a provider of acute care telemedicine, announced the addition of its newest service line, telePulmonology. SOC Telemed’s telePulmonology consultation services provide U.S. hospitals access to board-certified intensivists with pulmonary expertise through its on-demand telemedicine platform, Telemed IQ.
Reliq Health Technologies, Inc. Announces Launch of Multilingual Interactive Voice Recognition and New Contract in Maryland
Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (@ReliqHealth) a growing global telemedicine company that develops innovative Virtual Care solutions, announced the launch of its new multilingual Interactive Voice Recognition product, iUGO Care IVR, and a new contract with a physician practice in Maryland to use iUGO Care IVR with both their English- and Russian-speaking patients.
To Read:
Six Challenges & Recommendations For Navigating The Future Of Virtual Care from Forbes – Inflections bring challenges. How can our providers, healthcare executives, and innovators best prepare for the challenges and changes we’ll see in virtual care?
5 virtual health care trends driving employers’ health care strategies from BenefitsPro – Here are 5 predictions for how virtual care will evolve to deliver a better experience and usher in the era of virtual-first health care.
State News:
Mozzaz Launches Secure COVID-19 Vaccination Scheduling System for New Jersey Vaccine Distribution Center
Mozzaz (@mozzaz), a virtual care technology organization, announced their implementation of an online vaccination scheduling system for a provider network in New Jersey. This will allow eligible phase 1A workers, including law enforcement personnel, paid and unpaid fire professionals to schedule their initial and secondary vaccinations quickly and easily via a mobile application. This system will ensure effective management and coverage for all qualified frontline workers.
Listen:
HealthcareNOW Radio Telehealth Playlist
The Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines telehealth as “the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration.” To learn more and find out about the latest in telehealth tune in to the episodes on this playlist. Additionally, be sure to read HCNR’s Friday Five which recaps the site’s month long concentration on telehealth.
Events and Resources:
Telehealth Unlocked Interactive Symposium (@telehealthunloc)
What: Telehealth Unlocked Interactive Symposium
When: February 4 – 25, 2021
Where: Interactive Symposium
Register for this event. Save $200 with Early Bird Rates Before 12/31/20.
The healthcare industry’s embrace of telehealth in response to COVID-19 offers an opportunity to reshape care delivery. Telehealth Unlocked will help healthcare systems to build on this momentum and position themselves for future success. Hear from executives, clinicians, and technology leaders focused on improving the clinical process for patients and developing a long-term strategy for expanding the use of telehealth across the continuum of care
Telehealth Unlocked addresses providing equitable access to care, partnering with executive leadership to foster program growth, telehealth response to #COVIDー19, and preparing to address regulatory & legal uncertainties.
Learn more 👉 https://t.co/17F83nEzL2 pic.twitter.com/r0NdhKsBmw
— Telehealthunlocked (@telehealthunloc) December 1, 2020
Telehealth.HHS.gov
During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, we don’t have to choose between medical care and social distancing. When patients can get health care through telehealth — and doctors can provide it — we protect ourselves and our communities. The Telehealth.HHS.gov website provides information about the latest federal efforts to support and promote telehealth services.
The American Telemedicine Association Events
ATA is a non-profit association based in Washington DC with a membership network of more than 10,000 industry leaders and healthcare professionals. We are a leading telehealth association helping to transform healthcare by improving the quality, equity and affordability of healthcare throughout the world. Find their next event.
Defining the Industry According to the AAFP:
Telemedicine is the practice of medicine using technology to deliver care at a distance. It occurs using a telecommunications infrastructure between a patient (at an originating or spoke site) and a physician or other practitioner licensed to practice medicine (at a distant or hub site).
Virtual Care is a patient service model for healthcare providers.
Telehealth refers to a broad collection of electronic and telecommunications technologies that support health care delivery and services from distant locations. Telehealth technologies support virtual medical, health, and education services.
Hashtags to follow for updates on Telemedicine: