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
American Heart Association bridges healthcare needs of rural residents with telehealth hubs in libraries
A new initiative by the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, aims to eliminate health disparities in rural west Texas by creating “health hubs” in small-town libraries. With help funding from the Midland-based FMH Foundation, the Association is providing the necessary technology and building out soundproof rooms where residents can conduct telehealth appointments.
Virtual Care Industry Leader, VirtuAlly, Celebrates 1-year Anniversary of Providing Telesitting Service Solution to Five Orlando Health System Hospitals
VirtuAlly, a virtual care company on a mission to reimagine, redefine and reinvigorate the virtual care industry, announces its 1-year anniversary of providing telesitting service solutions to five hospitals in the Orlando Health System.
2024 AvaSure Symposium to Celebrate 15 Years of Transforming Virtual Care Delivery
AvaSure, a market leader in acute virtual care, announced that registration is open for the 2024 AvaSure Symposium, a two-day in-person event for hospital leaders to discuss how AI-powered virtual care platforms are transforming care delivery.
Stryker Agrees to Acquire Vertos Medical and care.ai
Stryker, a global medical technology company, announced that it signed “definitive agreement[s]” with care.ai on August 12 and Vertos Medical Inc. on August 22. Stryker’s press release states that planned acquisition of care.ai, a company “specializing in delivering AI-assisted virtual care workflows, smart room technology and ambient intelligence solutions . . . will help Stryker significantly accelerate [its] healthcare IT and digital vision to provide customers with real-time, smart and connected decision-making tools that enhance the lives of caregivers and their patients.”
Vesta Healthcare Raises $65 Million in Financing to Propel Growth
Vesta Healthcare, a virtual care provider group for people with home care, announced the close of $65 million in a Series C round with new debt financing.
LifeBridge Health and care.ai partner to implement Virtual Care Solutions for patients
care.ai, the world’s first and most advanced AI Smart Care Facility Platform for healthcare, and LifeBridge Health, one of the largest, most comprehensive providers of health services in Maryland, announced the implementation of care.ai’s Virtual Care solutions, starting with Sinai Hospital of Baltimore.
CareView Communications Awarded Virtual Care Agreement with Premier, Inc.
CareView Communications has been awarded a national group purchasing agreement for Virtual Care with Premier, Inc. Effective September 1, 2024, the new agreement allows Premier members, at their discretion, to take advantage of special pricing and terms pre-negotiated by Premier for virtual nursing, virtual sitting, and virtual care solutions that include software platforms and hardware.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Ochsner Digital Medicine teams up with AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana to improve treatment of hypertension, Type 2 diabetes
Ochsner Digital Medicine has teamed up with AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana to offer digital medicine services to the health plan’s members. Utilizing remote patient management (RPM), Ochsner Digital Medicine and AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana will work together to help members with certain chronic conditions better manage their health and improve their quality of life.
Product News
AvaSure, Oracle Collaborate With NVIDIA on AI-Powered Virtual Concierge for Hospitals and Health Systems
AvaSure, a provider of acute virtual care, is collaborating with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to develop a virtual concierge solution built with NVIDIA full-stack AI technology to improve patient care and streamline clinical workflows in hospitals and healthcare systems.
Policy News
The ATA and ATA Action Submit Detailed Comments on CY2025 Physician Fee Schedule – and Urge CMS to Push Congress to Act Swiftly to Extend or Make Permanent Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and ATA Action submitted detailed comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to the calendar year (CY) 2025 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. The ATA and ATA Action also urged CMS to advocate for Congress to swiftly extend or make permanent the Medicare telehealth flexibilities as soon as possible, before the December 31 deadline.
To Read
20 Years of Impactful Telehealthcare Research from AHRQ’s Digital Healthcare Research Program by AHRQ – AHRQ’s Digital Healthcare Research Program, which this year commemorates its 20th anniversary, has consistently encouraged the adoption of technologies to enhance not only healthcare quality and safety, but access too. Read about AHRQ’s instrumental role in building the foundation for telehealthcare.
Telehealth and hybrid practice are here to stay by American Psychological Association – Telehealth is widely used among psychologists, with some differences by career stage.
Ten Times to Try Telehealth from Trusted Medical Reference: MerckManuals.com – Merck Manuals, an authoritative online medical reference, shares advice from experts on when telehealth helps support access to healthcare and positive healthcare outcomes.
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
Telehealth Awareness Week (@AmericanTelemed)
What: Telehealth Awareness Week
When: September 15-21, 2024
Stay tuned for more details.
During the Telehealth Awareness Week (TAW), the ATA invites telehealth solution providers, hospital systems and medical practices, patient advocacy leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders to highlight the need to establish an omnichannel care model that includes in-person and virtual care.
AvaSure Symposium 2024 (@AvaSure)
What: AvaSure Symposium 2024
When: October 2-4, 2024
Where: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Register here.
It’s time for the must-attend event of the season, the 8th Annual AvaSure Symposium in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Join hospital leaders from across the country for an energizing two-day event on how AI-powered virtual care platforms are revolutionizing care delivery.
Insights Summit: Health Anywhere (@AmericanTelemed)
What: Insights Summit: Health Anywhere
When: November 13-14, 2024
Where: Loews, Arlington, TX
Register here.
Join ATA to explore the future of healthcare at the ATA Insights Summit “Health Anywhere: Redefining Remote Care and Integrated Digital Health across the Continuum.” This groundbreaking program delves into the seamless integration of digital care to enable patient health evaluation, monitoring, and care delivery outside the health system’s walls.
Insights Summit: Virtual Nursing (@AmericanTelemed)
What: Insights Summit: Virtual Nursing
When: November 17-19, 2024
Where: Loews, Arlington, TX
Register here.
Debuted last year with remarkable success, the ATA’s Insights Summit on Virtual Nursing is your premier opportunity to share challenges, solutions, and lessons learned with leaders from top healthcare organizations.
In its second phase, the 2024 Insights Summit will explore comprehensive virtual nursing integration. Learn to move beyond quick fixes, drive innovation and change, and identify measurable success in your virtual nursing program.
ATA EDGE2024 (@AmericanTelemed)
What: ATA EDGE2024
When: December 11-13, 2024
Where: Washington, DC
Save the date. Become a Sponsor.
Join ATA and ATA Action at the ATA EDGE2024 Policy Conference, the go-to event for cutting-edge insights into state, federal, and international telehealth policies. This year, we’re diving deep into the current state of virtual care policy and exploring what’s next. We’ll tackle the biggest challenges and uncover new opportunities, all while keeping telehealth’s momentum strong and bipartisan support high.
Be sure to check out the complete list of upcoming events from the American Telemedicine Association.