Telehealth News Recap - March 2022
It can be tough to catch up and keep up with the latest news, trends, interviews, and insights in the virtual care space. That’s why we’re here to do the work for you with our monthly telehealth news recap.
This month, we discuss insights from Wheel's clinician study on the Great ReExamination, the intersection of virtual reality and virtual care, why digital health organizations should pay attention to the VHA, and more.
Industry Research
The Great ReExamination: Examining the Pandemic's Challenging Working Conditions for Doctors and Nurses
To learn about the pandemic's long-term implications on the clinician career path, Wheel surveyed 400 doctors and nurses to to get their take.
Our study revealed the majority of clinicians are struggling with passion for patient care and rethinking their career path. But we also learned clinicians are eager for change, and healthcare organizations have an opportunity to redefine the clinician experience through virtual care.
Here are just a few things we learned:
- Half of clinicians are struggling with "empathy fatigue"
- 2 in 3 clinicians prefer working in a virtual-only or hybrid setting
- The majority of clinicians believe virtual primary care will bypass in-person care in 5 years
Read the findings from Wheel's study >
Trends & Insights
Unlocking Opportunities in Women’s Healthcare
According to McKinsey, only about 1% of healthcare research and innovation is invested in female-specific conditions outside oncology. Investors, companies, and stakeholders have an opportunity to close the gap between health investments and health needs for women.
Read the full article from McKinsey & Company >
The Metaverse Hype Arrives in Digital Health
Time will tell how virtual reality will change digital health care experiences for patients. But, startups and investors are already looking to create “the virtual treatment rooms of the metaverse.” As interest rises, so are questions and concerns about health data privacy.
Read the full article from STAT News >
Putting Digital Health Innovation Into Practice: Learning From The VHA
Innovations in digital health tech are quickly changing how patients access healthcare. For new technologies to scale effectively and see adoption, innovators should take notes from the VHA. The biggest health system in the US, the VHA is known for providing sustainable care for millions of veterans each year through thousands of digital health solutions.
Read the full article from Health Affairs >
Policy & Regulatory Updates
Bill Named in Memory of Lorna Breen, Doctor Who Died by Suicide on Frontline of Pandemic, Passes Congress
The Senate passed the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act which will support mental and behavioral health among health care providers long after the pandemic. The bill requires the HHS to award grants to health care entities for programs to educate health care workers about mental health, and encourage them to seek support and treatment.
Read the full article from The Washington Post >
Wheel News
‘Telehealth 2.0’ Will Blur Lines Between Virtual and In-Office Care
In an interview with PYMNTS, CEO & Co-founder Michelle Davey discussed Wheel’s $150 million Series C funding and:
- How Wheel is leveraging it's funding to accelerate "telehealth 2.0"
- Why building a clinician network and virtual care platform in-house is "utterly out of step with pandemic-era needs"
- Surprising stats on Wheel's clinician network — including 2/3 work in brick and mortar clinics in addition to providing virtual care through Wheel
- An argument that if the future of healthcare is hybrid, then our healthcare workforce also needs to be hybrid
