We are combining our Telemedicine and Virtual Care reports into Telemedicine News and Updates. 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.
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.
Product News:
firefly health launches health plan for employers
Firefly Health (@carebyfirefly) – a virtual-first healthcare company with a mission of delivering half-priced healthcare that’s twice as good, clinically and emotionally – announced the launch of a novel health plan for employers utilizing their proven care delivery model.
Industry News:
ATA2022 Annual Conference & Expo: Save the Date and Call for Participation Open!
ATA (@AmericanTelemed), the unbiased and credible industry voice on the use of telehealth, will hold its ATA2022 Annual Conference & Expo May 1-3 at the Boston Convention & Exposition Center. This year’s theme, Now What? Creating Opportunity in a Time of Uncertainty, will explore the landscape and examine what will be necessary to establish telehealth as a permanent modality in care delivery. ATA2022 will showcase best practices and practical applications of virtual care technologies, as well as forward-thinking ideas, innovative approaches to solving healthcare challenges, and inspiring speakers. The program team is accepting recommendations.
Pager® Secures $70M in Funding to Drive Expansion of Virtual Care in United States, Latin America and Worldwide
Pager (@getpager), a virtual care navigation and collaboration platform, announced it has raised $70 million as part of an equity and debt financing round. The Series-C round was led by Susquehanna Private Equity Investments, an affiliate of Susquehanna International Group LLLP (SIG), and included new and existing financial and strategic investors, including an affiliate of Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc., New Jersey’s largest health insurer. Debt financing was provided by Silicon Valley Bank.
Alpha Medical closes $24M Series B round to expand women’s telehealth — without the video calls
Alpha Medical (@helloalphamd), a telemedicine company focused on women’s healthcare, closed a $24 million Series B round. It’s another company situated squarely in the crosshairs of a pandemic-fueled boom in telemedicine investment, though Alpha Medical’s approach has one notable difference: you won’t be logging on to any Zoom calls.
Amwell Industry Telehealth Survey Paints Picture of an Integrated, Streamlined Digital Care Future
Amwell® (@amwell), a national telehealth leader, released results of an industry survey of hospitals and health systems, health plans, and clinicians on topics spanning telehealth, patient engagement, system integration and more.
Teladoc Health Selected to Provide Remote Patient Monitoring Solutions in Canada
Teladoc Health (@teladochealth), a global provider of whole-person virtual care, has been designated as a pre-qualified vendor by Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) to provide remote patient monitoring solutions across provinces and territories serving approximately 60 percent of Canada’s population. Earlier this year, Teladoc Health was also chosen as a vendor for virtual visits to improve access to healthcare for people in Canada.
SOC Telemed and Ob Hospitalist Group Announce Nationwide Partnership
SOC Telemed (@SOCTelemed), a national provider of acute care telemedicine, and Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG),a dedicated provider of customized obstetric (OB) hospitalist programs, announced a collaboration combining OBHG’s OB hospitalist programs with SOC Telemed’s maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) experts.
Let’s Talk Interactive and MobilDrTech Partner to Bring Expanded Line of Custom Telehealth Solutions to Healthcare Systems
Let’s Talk Interactive, Inc. (@LetsTalkInter), a provider of customizable telehealth solutions, and MobilDrTech, Inc., an established provider of telemedicine system components and equipment, announce a partnership that combines LTI’s custom HIPAA-compliant telehealth software with MobilDrTech’s telemedicine hardware solutions. The collaboration enables MobilDrTech to expand its line of components to include a stand-alone telemedicine software platform.
WELL Health Completes Majority Stake Acquisition of WISP, a Rapidly Growing Digital Health Leader Specializing in Women’s Health
WELL Health Technologies Corp., a company focused on empowering healthcare practitioners and their patients with best in class tech enabled healthcare services, is pleased to announce that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of a majority interest in WISP, a US technology innovator in the delivery of quality virtual care and e-pharmacy experiences specializing in women’s health, for a total transaction value of approximately US$41.3 million, which includes a future conditional earn-out of up to approximately US$7.4 million (the “Transaction”).
Making the Cut:
Teladoc Health Ranks First in Consumer Satisfaction by J.D. Power 2021 Telehealth Study
Teladoc Health ranks highest among direct-to-consumer providers in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Telehealth Satisfaction Study. With an overall satisfaction score of 874, nearly 30 points above the category average, Teladoc Health received the highest ranking and outperformed all other direct-to-consumer providers in all study subcategories, including customer service, consultation and enrollment.
Latest News from the FCC:
FCC Announces New Covid-19 Telehealth Program Awards Totaling More Than $41.11 Million To Health Care Providers
The Federal Communications Commission (@fcc) approved an additional 72 applications for funding commitments totaling $41,113,186 for Round 2 of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program. This is the FCC’s second funding announcement of approved Round 2 applications following the nearly $42 million awarded on August 26 to health care providers in each state, territory, and the District of Columbia.
FCC Announces Second Set of Awards for COVID-19 Telehealth Round 2
The Federal Communications Commission approved an additional 72 applications for funding commitments totaling $41,113,186 for Round 2 of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program. This is the FCC’s second funding announcement of approved Round 2 applications following the nearly $42 million awarded on August 26 to health care providers in each state, territory, and the District of Columbia.
To Read:
Best Practices for Launching a Virtual Health Program By Joel E. Barthelemy GlobalMed (@globalmed_usa) – A guide to the best practices for launching a virtual health program is needed more now than ever before. Just about every week you’ll hear the story of a new virtual care adopter who’s launched a groundbreaking program or there’s a new webinar or panel discussion unpacking its many virtues.
Telehealth case study: Virtual-first approach to primary care by Tanya Albert Henry AMA – A primary care practice that offers virtual-first care. Rapid response e-visits where patients are seen within two hours. Device-enabled exams that allow a physician to hear a patient’s heartbeat and lungs remotely. These are some of the novel ways primary care physicians are incorporating telehealth.
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:
Upcoming Events
ATA Edge Policy Conference (@AmericanTelemed)
What: ATA EDGE Policy Conference
When: January 12, 19, 26, and February 2,2021
Where: Four Week Series of Virtual Events
Register Now.
The ATA EDGE Policy Conference will focus on the latest state and federal telehealth policies and temporary waivers put in place in response to COVID-19, and the strategies to make access to telehealth permanently available following the public health emergency. This four-week virtual series of two-hour sessions, January 12, 19, 26, and February 2, will convene thought leaders, policymakers, and pundits to discuss post-election perspectives, explore the implications for telehealth, and highlight the modalities that can bridge the gap for vulnerable populations, rural communities, and deliver quality care when and where it’s needed.
5th Annual ConV2X 2021 Symposium
What: ConV2X 2021 “Driving Telehealth & Technology: Blueprint for a New Digital Health Era”
When: November 9 – 11, 2021
Where: Virtual
Twitter: #ConV2X
Register Now.
ConV2X 2021 “Driving Telehealth & Technology: Blueprint for a New Digital Health Era” – Focusing on health policy, telehealth and virtual care, blockchain and edge technologies, ConV2X 2021 is the premier destination community identifying new and cost effective paths forward through real world evidence, strategy, operations, research & trends.
ATA2022 Annual Conference & Expo (@AmericanTelemed)
What: ATA2022 Annual Conference & Expo
When: May 1-3, 2022
Where: In Person Boston, MA
Register Now.
ATA2022 will showcase a mix of practical applications of telehealth – from preventative and primary care to behavioral health and other areas of specialty care — and hands-on workshops, mixed with luminary vision of important next steps for telehealth’s future.