Digital Health at the Forefront

Over the past few days, healthcare professionals and industry leaders across the nation are suggesting that our healthcare environment is more akin to rural care than ever before. Given the state of our rural care in the United States, this proves to be challenging for healthcare systems to adopt novel technologies that curb the challenges of virtual care. With patients less likely to pursue care for major issues throughout this pandemic, digital interventions are more desirable than ever.

In a recent interview with McKinsey & Company and CVS Caremark’s president, Alan Lotvin, Mr. Lotvin highlights their shift to in-home models and nontraditional care during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the larger topics discussed was how patients and physicians are working to understand the risk of avoidable emergency department visits, and how they can effectively use digital tools, like telehealth and telemedicine, to run parts of the clinical practice. Additionally, the avoidance of care persists as a valid concern across healthcare systems, as people with comorbidities are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 complications.

Our Response

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that telehealth and telemedicine have come into the forefront of the digital health conversation. As Mr. Lotvin discussed, “telehealth and telemedicine are huge right now… I think most doctors have found that there are effective ways to run big parts of their practice.” The importance of telehealth and other digital interventions emphasizes the need for tools like cliexa in clinical practices. cliexa’s own virtual care solutions were significantly expanded in response to the needs of client clinics within weeks of the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, which integrates seamlessly into the other product offerings.

With industry leaders promoting the value of digital interventions, full-stack virtual health solutions continue to prove their long-term value in healthcare. Check out our latest blog as we discuss how the Access to Care in Rural Settings remains a challenge in the United States and continues to be an obstacle during the coronavirus pandemic.