Telehealth

The two executives in charge of virtual care at the New England health system explain why the term "building" has special meaning for them – and dive deep into what it takes to build highly successful telehealth programs to fill gaps in care.

MaineHealth has excelled in virtual care. Its vice president of telehealth and virtual care Lizzy Mulcahy, DNP, and its medical director of telehealth and virtual care Dr. Tracy Jalbuena offer detailed advice on expansion and patient involvement.

Dr. Ryan M. Trowbridge, owner of Bridge Dermatology, explains how he has used one vendor's technology and model to build his solo tele-dermatology practice as a complement to his full-time, in-person role with another healthcare group.

Doctors at China Medical University Hospital have also spent less time making diagnoses using AI.

The 1,600-bed teaching hospital is also expanding telemedicine access and piloting hospital-at-home service, says digital health head Dr Ong Tek Aik.

Dr Tamara Sunbul, CIO of Fakeeh Care Group, emphasised certifications and training in telemedicine.

The government has made permanent pandemic-era flexibilities on virtual prescribing and monitoring substance use disorder medications. As a result, telemedicine MAT programs may soon be more common.

If the agency doesn't create a plan for remote-prescribed controlled substances by the fall, it could jeopardize mental healthcare by year's end, the American Telemedicine Association-led coalition says.

Physicians, nurses and patients have embraced the health system's smart rooms, which, along with virtual nursing, have helped slash nursing turnover at one hospital from 23% in July 2024 to 14% this month.

Success metrics from the South Carolina health system show telemedicine to be an opportunity for nurses to practice at the top of their license, improve work-life balance and stay in the profession longer.