Telehealth

Also known as telemedicine, this area of care helps connect doctors and patients remotely, without requiring in-person visits. This virtual care strategy is beneficial for managing chronic conditions, delivering lab test or diagnostic imaging results, post-surgical follow-ups, assessing skin conditions, online counseling and many other healthcare services. It also can improve care, care access and outcomes for patients.

VIDEO: Creating a telecardiology program

Ami Bhatt, MD, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) chief innovation officer, and former director of telecardiology at Mass General Hospital, explains how to create and manage a cardiac telemedicine program.
 

Telehealth provided value for heart failure patients during COVID-19 pandemic

Overall, researchers found, 30-day readmission was less common when heart failure patients used telehealth to check in with a physician after discharge. 

GoodRx acquires vitaCare for $150M

GoodRx, a healthcare platform that offers telemedicine and prescription drug discounts, has agreed to acquire vitaCare Prescription Services for $150 million.

 

Patient demand for telemedicine remains strong

Clinicians and health systems have had more time to optimize their telemedicine practices, contributing to an increase in telemedicine’s overall favorability among patients, according to a report by Doximity. 

Digital tools can accelerate the integration of physical, behavioral health services, AMA says

COVID-19 has worsened the nation's decades-long behavioral health crisis, but a new report from the American Medical Association and others highlights strategies to improve access. 

Telehealth visits have declined since the onset of COVID-19

As it stands, the proportion of outpatient visits conducted via telehealth is still about 60% of what it was during the first six months of the pandemic, according to new data.

 

HHS awards $55 million to expand virtual healthcare access

The awards will enhance telehealth, digital patient tools and health information technology to support underserved communities.

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Proposed legislation would extend coverage of telehealth services through 2024

The Telehealth Extension and Evaluation Act would allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to extend Medicare payments for a wide range of telehealth services.