The big risks for health systems as more care goes virtual

The uptick in telehealth and virtual care has many benefits for patients during the pandemic. But there are also challenges and risks.

Todd Czartoski answered the question: What are the challenges and risks for health systems and physicians as more care goes virtual?

The biggest drivers of telehealth will be the move to value-based care and the willingness of CMS to extend COVID-era provisions which allow for expanded reimbursement. Within this framework, it is also likely that we will continue to see a significant variability in utilization by discipline. Cognitive fields, such as behavioral health, will likely continue to utilize virtual care more.

The value of a team approach to caring for patients and populations will continue to emerge, especially as providers may choose to work remotely. The clinic-based practice we have known for years will be less recognizable as roles shift and automation and asynchronous care drive efficiency into the care model.

As a society and health system, we must remain vigilant about safety and security. Providence has been doing virtual visits for 15 years, but nothing close to the scale of 2020. This year will exceed 1.6 million face-to-face telehealth encounters. As this has moved into a mainstream care delivery modality, we continue to develop and refine standards for best practices in virtual care.

Read the complete article at Becker's Hospital Review.