Virtual care expansion: boosting capacity and increasing access to care

The Philips Future Health Index 2024 identifies and explores the transformative power of virtual care in this pursuit of high-quality, widespread healthcare delivery. By embracing virtual care expansion, industry leaders can overcome current challenges, improve patient outcomes, and contribute to a more inclusive healthcare culture in the future.

Healthcare professionals are acutely aware of the pressure on existing systems to deliver timely and effective care. An overwhelming 82% of healthcare leaders recognize virtual care's capacity to ease staff shortages, contributing not only to an increase in patient servicing capacity but also to the flexibility in clinicians' work schedules. This flexibility is crucial in preventing burnout and promoting a healthy work-life balance — a cornerstone of sustainability in healthcare.

Furthermore, virtual care has been shown to enhance support for complex patient management, allowing professionals to collaborate across different locations and extend specialist care into underserved communities. With such a versatile tool at their disposal, healthcare professionals can turn the challenge of limited resources into an opportunity for smarter, more distributed care delivery.

Chronic disease management is a primary focus for nearly half of healthcare leaders, with 45% already implementing remote patient monitoring in this domain. The benefits are evident, as continuous monitoring can lead to early detection and intervention, ultimately improving patient outcomes and lessening the burden on healthcare facilities.

By integrating remote monitoring for elderly care and perioperative care, industry professionals can extend their vigilance and care beyond the traditional boundaries of clinics and hospitals. This can help optimize the patient experience while capitalizing on the potential of virtual care to streamline the treatment process, from diagnosis to recovery.

Virtual care also stands as a testament to the possibility of expanding specialist services to communities affected by staff shortages. Forty percent of leaders report that virtual care has enabled the expansion of specialist care to underserved areas, while more than one-third have experienced decreased clinical response times.

The implications are significant: Early screening, rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment become more attainable, setting the stage for improved health outcomes. By embracing virtual care, healthcare professionals can make a tangible impact on patient lives, particularly in regions where access to care has historically been limited.

Virtual care is a critical component in the quest for equitable healthcare. For example, it can play a pivotal role in areas like maternal care deserts, where the lack of obstetric services can be mitigated through virtual offerings. Yet systemic disparities continue to challenge this vision. Studies have shown that those least likely to access telehealth services are often from marginalized populations, including the elderly and people from Black, Asian and Latino communities with lower incomes and education levels.

There's also the issue of the digital divide. Healthcare leaders are cognizant of the fact that access to technology and internet connectivity is not universal. Around 58% note the importance of a seamless patient experience across virtual and in-person care, whereas 57% emphasize the necessity for technology accessibility in non-facility settings.

Addressing these disparities requires more than technology; it demands a concerted effort to ensure equitable and accessible virtual care offerings. For true impact, medical professionals must continue to advocate for policies promoting broadband internet availability and establish community partnerships to foster inclusivity and digital literacy.

Virtual care expansion isn't just a technological advancement; it's a pathway to a more accessible and efficient healthcare system. By leveraging virtual care, healthcare professionals can enhance patient experiences, improve health outcomes and address the critical need for care in underserved communities.

The journey ahead requires innovation, collaboration and a commitment to bridging the digital divide. That said, the promise of better care for more people is within reach – and virtual care expansion can help take us there.

For more insights on how virtual care can be integrated into your practice, download the Philips Future Health Index 2024.