How to build a winning telehealth strategy

Offering telehealth services is no longer seen merely as an innovative idea by the patients who use them. Today, it is increasingly what patients expect.

Healthcare practices today are judged less by whether they provide remote care, and more by the specific nature of their off-premises consultations.

How satisfied are patients with their telemedicine consultations? How much time and money can be saved by patients and practitioners using remote services instead of in-person visits? How comprehensive are the online exams? How secure are the networks being used?

Recent polling by Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) shows 45% of medical groups report 2025 telehealth volumes at the same level or higher than a year ago. “Telehealth services have been an integral part of many medical groups,” explains a MGMA report. 

Adoption to this trend has been especially robust at hospitals, which have boosted their fiber connectivity and communications platforms accordingly.

According to the American Hospital Association: “Telehealth is now a routine way for patients to access health care services and for providers in remote and other areas to access specialty consults that expand their ability to treat patients in their local communities.”

Unlocking the power of AI

One way telehealth expands the efficacy of healthcare providers is by providing remote diagnoses that identify potential illnesses early. This ability, augmented by in-person visits, is further enhanced when supported by robust AI tools.

AI offers physicians the ability to instantly analyze a patient across any number of profiles to focus on areas of most immediate concern, such as diabetes or heart health. Predictive analytics tools help doctors focus on what reported symptoms may mean, making time spent with patients more productive. Even check-in procedures can be automated and simplified via machine learning.

Combined with increased use of wearables and the storage of electronic health records, AI can design a more comprehensive and individualized care program through the monitoring of patient behavior. This effectively extends the care experience well beyond the walls of a medical practice.

Expanding the reach of physician support

Telehealth is proving especially effective for rural locations, where the nearest healthcare facility may be many miles away. In more populated parts of the country, the ability to offer hybrid solutions with both telehealth and in-patient services means less strain for patients managing traffic or public transportation.

There is also the telehealth benefit of widening the pool of expertise available to patients. Consulting physicians and other experts can be brought to the virtual table through online consultations. Cloud-based communications platforms ensure a seamless experience where key questions are asked and answered, and next steps explained utilizing a broad array of applications and tools.

Telehealth is not yet at a level where it can replace in-person visits. But it is already making in-person visits more efficient and focused as well as less frequent, while simultaneously providing a more holistic healthcare model for providers.

Emphasizing security at every turn

The more people rely on remote care, the more it pays to be careful. The need for strong telehealth security becomes clearer as telehealth becomes part of the day-to-day lives of patients in the forms of remote monitoring and AI-driven care.

For medical providers, a healthy cybersecurity regimen runs the gamut from password protection and observing HIPAA provisions to protecting critical data in the cloud. Securing all types of Protected Health Information, from Social Security numbers to treatment records to email addresses, is a baseline need.  

Supported by cloud-based security tools like zero-trust network access, building a protective wall around the privacy of patients is more practical and less onerous than ever.  

Telehealth security is increasingly on the minds of patients, who are made constantly aware by news reports of the risks of exposing their personal information. While adhering to stricter protocols can be bothersome in the short-term, patients understand its importance and appreciate its contribution to a safer, more secure telehealth experience.

Getting the right tools in place

Today’s healthcare leaders understand that telehealth is a critical component to any growth strategy. That is why they are investing in connectivity and communications tools that give them the flexibility they need at the service level patients expect.

For telehealth providers, the ability to work with a wide variety of devices is critical. So is a service that brings together voice services across a single network. A cloud-based communications platform with HITRUST certification, Unified Communications with RingCentral is designed to offer full HIPAA compliance as well as the scalability and flexibility needed for growth.

Finding the right solution for you

Want to know more about how to make telehealth more central to your practice? Learn how Spectrum Business can help bring your best future into clearer focus.