Using technology to deliver health care from a distance has been available for decades. In recent years, telehealth usage has steadily increased, and many large medical groups today offer telehealth services. A growing number of both physicians and patients are satisfied with their telehealth experience and enjoy the convenience and efficiency resulting from removing the need to travel to a doctor’s office. However, despite its many advantages, telehealth has been slow to catch on, partly due to barriers involving regulations and licensing issues.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth is suddenly understood to be the safest way to see patients. This realization has been accompanied by the accelerated innovation and adoption of new telehealth technologies, and the U.S. government has eased regulations regarding reimbursement and licensing. As a result, the use of video visits has surged dramatically. For example, the average number of weekly telehealth visits for non-HMO Medicare patients increased from about 13,000 pre-pandemic to nearly 1.7 million in the last week of April 2020.

As a result, interest in telehealth technology has understandably surged among entrepreneurs and investors. Digital health has quickly become one of the most heavily invested sectors in the startup community, with telehealth being the number one top-funded category. Is telehealth here to stay or will the excitement dissipate when the pandemic ends? In this online event, our panel of entrepreneurs, investors, and health professionals will discuss the realities, roadmaps, and future potential of telehealth.

• What are the biggest barriers to expanding the adoption of telehealth services?
• How can telehealth startups gain a competitive advantage over existing platforms?
• How can extending telehealth services to underserved areas help reduce health disparities?

Join us on October 1 to find out.

Moderator

Jack Higgins, MD – President & Chief Medical Officer, Global Telehealth Network

Panelists

Brad Younggren, MD – Chief Medical Officer, 98point6

Albert Chan, MD – Chief of Digital Patient Experience, Sutter Health

Alpa Sanghavi, MD – Chief Quality and Patient Experience Officer, San Mateo Medical Center

Sunny Kumar, MD – Partner, GSR Ventures