How is virtual healthcare used to benefit patients and care givers? What are the newest innovations in virtual care technology? How do telehealth and telemedicine fit into the realm of virtual healthcare? We have our finger on the pulse and are striving to report the latest developments around virtual healthcare.
Industry News
Iris Telehealth Earns Spot on Fast 50 List of Central Texas’ Fastest Growing Private Companies
Austin Business Journal recently revealed that Iris Telehealth (@iristelehealth), a provider of virtual behavioral health services for health systems and community health centers across the U.S., was ranked number 37 on its annual Fast 50 list of the fastest-growing private companies across Central Texas.
GNC Expands into Virtual Healthcare with GNC Health
GNC (@GNCLiveWell), the global powerhouse in health and wellness, announced the expansion of its virtual healthcare service, GNC Health. GNC Health now offers membership plans for individuals and families with three tiers– Basic, Plus, and Premier– becoming a nationwide service that makes proactive wellness more accessible and helps consumers Live Well.
U.S. Defense Health Agency selects Amwell® and Leidos to power the Digital First initiative for the U.S. Military Health System
Amwell® (@amwell), a company in hybrid healthcare enablement, together with Leidos, a science and technology company, was recently awarded a next-generation contract to provide a hybrid care technology platform designed to power the “Digital First” transformation of the Military Health System.
Teladoc Health Partners with Sword Health to Offer New Musculoskeletal Health Option
Teladoc Health (@teladochealth), the global company in whole person virtual care, has entered into a reseller agreement with Sword Health to give Teladoc clients the opportunity to secure access to Sword Health’s platform for treating pain, which includes digital physical therapy and pelvic health care among other offerings, through their relationship with Teladoc Health.
Evernorth Acquires Bright.md Technology Platform, Enhances MDLIVE’s Virtual Care Experience for Patients and Clinicians
Evernorth Health Services (@evernorth), the pharmacy, care, and benefits solution division of The Cigna Group, announced it will enhance MDLIVE’s virtual care by acquiring the technology and clinical capabilities of Bright.md, a company in asynchronous care, triage, and health care navigation services.
TytoCare Named Winner of Digital Health Hub Foundation and Digital Health Awards Best in Class in Next-Gen Telemedicine
TytoCare (@TytoCare), a virtual care company enabling leading health plans and providers to deliver accessible, high-quality primary care and physical exams anywhere across the country, announced that it was crowned the winner of the 2023 Digital Health Hub Foundation (DHHF) and Digital Health Awards in the “Best in Class Next-Gen Telemedicine” category at HLTH 2023.
Remote Patient Monitoring
InfoBionic Enters into a Know-How Agreement with Mayo Clinic to Enhance Remote Patient Monitoring Platform
InfoBionic (@InfoBionic), a digital health company providing AI-powered diagnostic remote patient monitoring solutions, announced it has entered into an agreement with Mayo Clinic to incorporate its extensive know-how in cardiac patient monitoring, AI-ECG, and virtual telemetry to optimize and build upon its existing monitoring platform.
Product News
Caregility Introduces New Integrations and Capabilities to Virtual Care Ecosystem that Streamline Clinical Workflows
Caregility (@caregility), an enterprise telehealth leader connecting care for patients and clinicians everywhere, announces the release of new capabilities as part of the company’s highly anticipated Cares 2.0 software series.
You can now treat your cough, cold, or flu virtually through Amazon Clinic
Amazon Clinic (@amazonnews) customers can now select “Cough, cold, and flu” from the “Find a treatment” list on Amazon Clinic via Amazon.com or the Amazon mobile app. From there, they can review a list of available telehealth providers and compare pricing and response times to find the right fit for their schedule and budget.
DocVilla integrates Stripe Terminal for Point-of-Sale (POS) Payment Convenience
DocVilla, a pioneer in health technology platforms, is proud to unveil a significant enhancement to its comprehensive suite of services. With the integration of Stripe Terminal for point-of-sale (POS) payments, DocVilla continues to redefine medical payment processes, adding another layer of convenience for healthcare providers and patients.
Policy News
AHA infographic: Telehealth funding cuts would reduce patient access to care
New infographic explaining how the Senate HELP Committee’s Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Expansion Act’s proposal to eliminate facility fees for telehealth services will impact access to care https://t.co/5EjdFf69pl
— American Hospital Association (@ahahospitals) October 25, 2023
DEA Further Extends Flexibilities for Controlled-Substance Prescribing Via Telemedicine
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (@DEAHQ) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (@samhsagov) have further extended flexibilities that allow providers to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine without first performing an in-person visit. The flexibilities were initially provided during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The extension runs through December 31, 2024.
FDA’s New Enforcement Policy: A Win for Remote Patient Monitoring and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Manufacturers
On October 19, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (@US_FDA) issued Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff titled Enforcement Policy for Non-Invasive Remote Monitoring Devices Used to Support Patient Monitoring (guidance). This guidance updates previous guidance issued during the COVID-19 pandemic and is meant to provide clarity on current enforcement policies now that the public health emergency is declared over.
To Read
How Telehealth Supports Work-Life Balance for Clinicians by Iris Telehealth – Work-life balance is essential in the behavioral health industry. In this blog, Iris Telehealth review the impact of clinician burnout, how telehealth helps support work-life balance, and what a day-in-the life of a virtual behavioral health provider looks like.
Reducing Burnout in Healthcare With the Help of Digital Tools by AMD Global Telemedicine – Healthcare is in the throes of an employee burnout crisis — and the numbers are nothing short of alarming. According to a survey in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, nearly half of healthcare workers have experienced burnout.
Choosing the Right Telemedicine Platform by 19Labs (@19_labs) – 19 Labs explores 3 key factors to consider in selecting the right telemedicine platform for your needs based on insights from our customers’ real-world applications and experience.
To Listen
Our 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.
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:
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.
Upcoming Events
ATA2024 Annual Conference & Expo (@AmericanTelemed)
What: ATA2024 Annual Conference & Expo
When: May 5-7, 2024
Where: Phoenix, AZ
Save the date.
ATA2024 Annual Conference & Expo – Amplify your message, build brand awareness, and connect with industry decision-makers – all gathered for the telehealth event of the year! Create a customized sponsorship and reserve your space on the exhibit floor today!