2024 forecasts a surge in virtual healthcare with predictions spotlighting substantial growth in hybrid care models, chronic care management, workplace health initiatives, and asynchronous telemedicine. Jon Salon, President of MDLive, anticipates a transformative shift towards virtual primary care, tackling access challenges and enhancing patient outcomes. The spotlight on chronic care management integrates technology to engage patients between visits, offering valuable support for conditions like hypertension. Workplace wellness initiatives blend digital tools and in-person services, ensuring a holistic approach to employee health. Asynchronous telemedicine emerges as a solution to provider shortages, streamlining low-acuity care. MDLive’s forthcoming asynchronous care offering promises simplified access for patients seeking basic healthcare needs.
The landscape of telehealth continues to evolve, with 2024 poised to witness remarkable advancements in healthcare delivery. Jon Salon, the President of MDLive, delves into the upcoming trends in telemedicine, shedding light on the burgeoning growth and pivotal transformations set to redefine healthcare practices. The year ahead foresees a paradigm shift towards virtual primary care, addressing accessibility barriers and revolutionizing patient experiences. Moreover, chronic care management witnesses a technological infusion, empowering patients to manage conditions effectively between appointments. Workplace health initiatives embrace a hybrid model, blending physical and virtual care to cater to employee wellness comprehensively. Asynchronous telemedicine emerges as a solution to augment care amidst provider shortages, promising convenience and accessibility for basic healthcare needs.
Anticipate a surge in hybrid virtual care and asynchronous telemedicine in 2024. Jon Salon, president of MDLive, shared insights with Healthcare IT News, foreseeing growth in chronic care management, employer-based care, and transformative trends in telehealth. Here’s a rephrased take on the content:
As telemedicine solidifies its position in healthcare delivery, leaders in provider organizations must vigilantly track the evolving landscape of virtual care. Speaking with Healthcare IT News, Jon Salon, President of MDLive, an Evernorth Company specializing in virtual healthcare, provided a glimpse into the upcoming year’s telehealth trajectory.
Q: What’s a crucial telemedicine forecast for 2024?
A: Expect significant expansion and adoption of virtual primary care and hybrid care models this year. Timely access to primary care is vital for better patient outcomes and for curbing costly complications resulting from care delays. The supply-demand gap in primary care leads to prolonged wait times for office visits, prompting patients to defer or avoid care. Virtual care dismantles these barriers, offering convenience and accessibility, essential for routine and preventive services.
MDLive has witnessed a doubling in virtual primary care visits, signaling a robust trend. I anticipate exponential growth as providers enhance capabilities, seamlessly integrating virtual care with physical sites when necessary. Data increasingly demonstrates how virtual primary care enhances health outcomes and value.
Q: You mentioned advancements in chronic care management. Could you elaborate?
A: Maintaining connectivity between patients and their care teams, particularly for chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, remains pivotal. Virtual care providers are leveraging technology to engage these patients between visits, aiding daily condition management.
Studies highlight the efficacy of digital tools in supporting chronic care plans, medication adherence, and fostering healthy behaviors. MDLive’s expansion of virtual primary care includes digital health coaching for chronic condition patients, starting with hypertension. This addition has proven immensely valuable, with over 80% of these patients embracing digital health coaching in their care plans within a few months of its launch.
Q: Any other significant telehealth predictions for 2024?
A: Employers, transitioning employees back to physical offices, seek comprehensive support for their well-being, blending in-person services with digital tools and virtual care. Worksite health clinics, and behavioral and occupational health services, coupled with a hybrid approach, aim to engage remote employees and promote healthier lifestyles. This evolution in workplace wellness initiatives should yield better engagement and health outcomes.
Q: You also mentioned asynchronous telemedicine as a growing trend. Could you discuss this further?
A: Asynchronous care addresses the provider shortage while enhancing access to timely care. It efficiently manages common, low-acuity conditions, slashing providers’ administrative workload by up to 90%. This approach prioritizes meaningful provider-patient interactions, offering a lower-cost option for basic healthcare needs.
Virtual care’s positive impact on outcomes by dismantling barriers to access and convenience is undeniable. Asynchronous care simplifies access further, allowing consumers to seek care without live provider interaction, a trend likely to resonate, especially among younger demographics.
Evernorth’s acquisition of Bright.md’s technology platform earlier this year signals a move into the asynchronous care space. MDLive plans to introduce an asynchronous care option in 2024, catering to common, low-acuity conditions through its on-demand urgent care offering.
As the curtains rise on the telehealth landscape of 2024, the stage is set for a revolutionary era in healthcare delivery. Jon Salon’s insights into the imminent trends paint a picture of remarkable growth and innovation in virtual care models. The evolution towards virtual primary care promises to bridge gaps in access, enhancing patient outcomes and transforming healthcare accessibility. A tech-driven approach to chronic care management signifies a paradigm shift, empowering patients to actively engage in their health journeys. Workplace health initiatives, marrying physical and digital care, herald a holistic approach to employee well-being. The burgeoning adoption of asynchronous telemedicine marks a pivotal stride towards accessible and efficient low-acuity care. The stage is set for a transformative year, propelling telehealth into new dimensions of accessibility and patient-centric care.
