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
Novant Health launches digital health and engagement business division
Novant Health is launching a digital health and engagement business division to lead the strategy and implementation of omni-channel digital solutions and develop a comprehensive digital health care delivery platform. The team will be led by Novant Health’s Dr. Hank Capps, senior vice president and chief digital health and engagement officer, and Stephanie Landry, senior director of digital health and engagement.
Two OSF HealthCare leaders recognized nationally for transforming care
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA), is recognizing two leaders of OSF HealthCare for their remarkable contributions to advancing telehealth and virtual care. The ATA is a broad and inclusive member network working to advance industry adoption of telehealth, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalization and provide education and resources to help integrate digital care into emerging value-based delivery models of care.
Telehealth.org Acquired and Relaunches to Become the Central Hub for Telehealth Success
Doxy.me, a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform trusted by over a million providers worldwide, has acquired and relaunched Telehealth.org with a bold new vision: to become the definitive hub for telehealth education, CME/CE training, compliance, consulting, and telehealth news across all areas of healthcare.
Hackensack Meridian Health, Equum Medical, and AvaSure Partner to Launch Virtual Nursing Program to Increase Convenient, Accessible Care for Patients
Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health network, has partnered with Equum Medical, a provider of virtual care-enabled clinical services solutions, and AvaSure, a pioneering innovator in patient safety technology, to launch a groundbreaking Virtual Nursing Program. The program will enhance nursing care delivery by integrating cutting-edge technology with compassionate, high-quality care to enhance patient care, support nursing teams, and optimize health care by seamlessly integrating virtual nurses into the patient care environment across Hackensack Meridian Health‘s expansive network.
Teladoc Health Acquires UpLift, Expanding Consumer Access to Mental Health Care Services Through Covered Benefits
Teladoc Health, the global leader in virtual care, announced it has acquired UpLift, an innovative and tech-enabled provider of virtual mental health therapy, psychiatry and medication management services.
TeleMed2U Acquires SIGMA Tactical Wellness, Expanding Virtual Specialty Care Access to Law Enforcement and First Responders
TeleMed2U, a tele-specialty care company focused on leveraging technology and end-to-end patient services to deliver high-quality affordable care, announced the acquisition of SIGMA Tactical Wellness, the nationally recognized company dedicated to reducing cardiovascular risk in the public safety sector. Under the terms of the agreement, TeleMed2U will incorporate SIGMA’s advanced cardiac risk screening capabilities to expand the company’s virtual condition detection and treatment capabilities for this high-risk and often overlooked patient population. Financial details were not disclosed for the deal, which marks the first-of-its-kind integration of cardiac risk detection and virtual specialty treatments.
Electronic Caregiver Launches First-Ever AI-Powered Virtual Care Ecosystem Featuring Interactive Avatar, Now Available via Athenahealth’s EHR Network
Electronic Caregiver, a provider of intelligent virtual care solutions, has announced the direct integration of its revolutionary Addison Care platform into the athenaOne® electronic health record (EHR) system from athenahealth. This marks the first time a fully interoperable, AI-powered 3D virtual caregiver becomes accessible to thousands of healthcare providers nationwide through a leading EHR platform.
Rula Health and Curai Health Partner to Expand Access to Mental Health Care
Curai Health, a virtual primary care provider, announced a partnership with Rula Health, a national behavioral healthcare provider group that delivers high-quality mental healthcare. This collaboration will provide Curai patients access to Rula’s extensive network of licensed therapists and psychiatric providers.
Commure and HealthTap Partner to Deliver Seamless, Unified Virtual and In-Person Care
Commure, a leader in health technology infrastructure, announced a strategic partnership with virtual care innovator HealthTap to launch a unified healthcare solution that bridges the gap between in-person and virtual care. This new offering combines Commure’s robust EHR integrations, AI-powered tools, and care coordination capabilities with HealthTap’s extensive clinician network and virtual care delivery services to provide a truly comprehensive, turnkey care model.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Shorter Lines at Urgent Care Centers: TytoCare Partners with Allina Health to Incorporate Unique Remote Patient Monitoring
TytoCare is working with Allina Health, a large Midwest health care system with patients across Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, to offer patients a unique hybrid care program aimed at reducing wait times and increasing the number of patients that can be seen at its locations. By deploying TytoCare’s Pro Smart Clinic solution in 12 urgent care locations, Allina Health is now offering on-demand virtual care teams that can treat individuals remotely using TytoCare’s advanced virtual care technology. As a result, patient wait times have been reduced and daily patient volumes have increased. Patients with simple reasons for visiting an urgent care now have more services offered, including a hybrid care model, allowing them to access care in the way that works best for them and their families.
ThinkAndor® AI Software Infrastructure for Healthcare Delivers Significant Virtual Nursing ROI
Andor Health, the AI company reimagining virtual care with the #1 AI software infrastructure for healthcare, expands AI-first ThinkAndor® capabilities at Sentara Health. Sentara is among the top 20 largest not-for-profit integrated health systems in the country, with 34,000 employees, 12 hospitals in Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina, and the Sentara Health Plans division which serves more than 1 million members in Virginia and Florida.
Product News
Fabric Launches Concierge Virtual Care–Including Subscriptions, Labs, and Integrated Experiences
Fabric, a leader in care delivery and consumer experience, announced major updates to its Virtual Care platform, including the launch of a subscription-based care model that brings consumer-grade convenience and continuity to traditional healthcare organizations.
TimelyCare Elevates Mental Health Support With 24/7 Crisis Line
TimelyCare, higher education’s most trusted virtual health and well-being provider, is making critical mental health support faster and more accessible than ever with the launch of its new dedicated 24/7 crisis phone line.
Legion Health Enhances Telehealth Services With Implementation of QbCheck
Legion Health, a telepsychiatry provider dedicated to transforming patient care through advanced technology, announces its clinic-wide adoption of QbCheck, an FDA-cleared remote objective ADHD testing technology from Qbtech. As a completely virtual clinic, Legion Health recognized the need for standardization and efficiency in ADHD care and the benefits QbCheck could provide.
TytoCare Completes AI Lung Sound Suite with Latest FDA Clearance For Rhonchi, A World’s First
TytoCare, a virtual care company enabling accessible, high-quality primary care from home, is the first company in the world to receive FDA clearance for AI-based detection of all three major abnormal lung sounds. The company announced the completion of its AI-powered lung sound suite with the FDA clearance of Tyto Insights™ for Rhonchi Detection.
DocNow Launches Integrated Telehealth Platform to Streamline Virtual Care for Post-Acute Providers
DocNow, a provider of electronic health record (EHR) solutions for post-acute care, announces the launch of DocNow Telehealth, a secure, Zoom-powered virtual care platform built specifically for providers in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), Long-Term Care (LTC), and Home Health settings.
hellocare.ai Raises $47M to Accelerate AI-Assisted Virtual Care and Transform Hospital Rooms into Smart, Connected Care Environments
hellocare.ai, an AI-assisted virtual care delivery platform transforming hospital care models and operations, announced it has raised $47 million in an oversubscribed funding growth round.
Castlight Health Introduces 24/7 Virtual Urgent Care, Connecting Members to Quality Care in Minutes
Castlight Health, a provider of healthcare benefits navigation, launched its virtual urgent care (VUC) solution, powered by Fabric, to elevate the virtual care experience by seamlessly integrating with Castlight’s comprehensive healthcare benefits navigation app.
Vitalchat Launches Hardware Leasing Option to Make Virtual Care More Predictable and Affordable for Hospitals
Vitalchat, a provider of AI-powered ambient solutions for inpatient virtual nursing and procedural telehealth, announced a new leasing program that enables hospitals to access camera and audio hardware through a flexible monthly subscription, transforming large upfront capital expenses (CapEx) into more manageable operating expenses (OpEx).
1st Optimal Delivers Life-Changing Telehealth for Hormones, Weight Loss, and Wellness
1st Optimal is redefining modern healthcare for high-performing men and women with a premium functional medicine telehealth platform that delivers fully personalized, data-driven care. Designed for professionals who demand more from their health, 1st Optimal specializes in hormone optimization, medically guided weight loss, sexual wellness, and longevity-focused performance medicine.
Policy News
ATA Action Launches Virtual Foodcare Coalition, Integrating Nutritious Food into Healthcare through Telehealth and Digital Platforms
ATA Action, the advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association, announced the launch of its new Virtual Foodcare Coalition, a dynamic advocacy group committed to developing policies that align virtual care with food and nutritional support to promote health, help prevent disease, and manage chronic conditions.
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.
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.