Telehealth News Recap - October 2021
It can be tough to catch up and keep up with the latest news, trends, interviews, and insights in the virtual care space. That’s why we’re here to do the work for you with our monthly telehealth news recap.
This month, we learn about the success of a pilot program for telepsychiatry in rural areas, how the healthcare system is limiting access to mental health care for providers, and why entrepreneurs who master the ‘consumer’ patient experience will achieve the highest adoption.
Wheel News
Telehealth is Everyone’s Business Webinar
Wheel CEO and co-founder, Michelle Davey, recently led a panel discussion on the regulatory, clinical, and technical components every leader should understand when building a successful telehealth service. Our expert panelists included leaders from GoodRx, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Tusk Strategies.
Trends & Insights
Stanford researchers: Telemedicine Optimization Requires Training, Interoperability
Scientists highlight gaps they continue to see in telemedicine and how enhancing technology and providing sufficient training will help to manage these areas of improvement. Experts agree that telemedicine is here to stay, so it’s time to invest in the research to improve it.
Read the full article from Healthcare IT News >
Telepsychiatry a Resounding Success in 5-Year Trial
The study represented experiences from 1,004 patients in rural federally qualified health centers and found that telepsychiatry successfully treated bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Lead researcher John Fortney, Ph.D. states, “The results of our trial showed that if you give access to high-quality care for patients who are underserved, they improve their quality of life.”
Read the full article from University of Michigan Health Lab >
First Opinions & Engaging Conversations
Combating the Burnout Bottleneck Among Clinical Research Workers
One group that has been left out of the burnout news cycle is clinical research workers. These professionals have many of the same struggles as healthcare providers, but the work also has its own unique stressors.
Read the full article from STAT News >
How To Help Doctors Get Mental Health Care: Change The System
An in-depth argument and breakdown of the six structural barriers limiting healthcare providers from seeking and accessing mental health care.
Read the full article from U.S. News >
Policy & Regulatory Updates
Pandemic Special Enrollment Period Led to Record Number of ACA Enrolled
More than 2.8 million people signed up for healthcare coverage during the special enrollment period for Affordable Care Act plans. Enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP are at record highs.
Read the full article from Healthcare Dive >
Federal Audits of Telehealth to Shape Its Post-Pandemic Future
The Justice Department and the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services announced a $4.5 billion healthcare fraud “takedown.” A deep dive into what this means for telemedicine companies.
Read the full article from Bloomberg Law >
Growth & Innovation
New gift to Sanford Health will fund virtual care center
Sanford Health announced a $350 million philanthropic donation to support a clinical initiative to create one of the world’s leading virtual care centers. The initiative’s mission is to provide accessible care in rural and underserved communities in the Midwest.
Read the full article from Sanford Health >
How entrepreneurs can meet the moment in digital healthcare innovation
As digital healthcare continues to grow, the innovative entrepreneurs who balance all factors of the “consumer” patient experience will find the highest adoption.