Population Health

Better data, better devices and a better experience will push telehealth to the next stage of its development in 2021.

Walgreens, Costco, CVS and others said they would use existing IT systems to help customers track their vaccination dosage schedule.  

The system made no furloughs as a result of COVID-19, was able to give out bonuses and raises, and is on track to meet its financial baseline.

The platform has demonstrated strong results in terms of patient satisfaction, drawing investors to the space.

Whether assessing vaccine safety and efficacy, assisting with X-ray readings or tracking communities' vulnerability to COVID-19, artificial intelligence has been put to work in new and innovative ways throughout the pandemic.

One thing to expect will be a pent-up demand for healthcare services that patients have been putting off, says Lyft's Megan Callahan.

In lieu of permanent policy change, industry groups urged legislators to extend temporary telehealth flexibilities through the end of 2021.

Mature health systems recognize the importance of context and design virtual care programs accordingly. Telehealth looks different for millennials and retirees, rural and urban patients and population groups with fundamentally different healthcare needs.

The senator touts "judicious use of the cloud," wider information sharing and "good ol' cyber hygiene" as private-sector best practices – but also says lack of a real deterrent for nation state bad actors has been a federal policy failure.

The representatives said they're optimistic about the legislation's forward movement, given President-Elect Joe Biden's support for the 21st Century Cures Act when he was last in the White House.