This webinar focused on the role of digital health in future-proofing care delivery. The panelists discussed their experiences and strategies in implementing digital health solutions in their respective organizations, focusing on the impact on operational efficiency and quality of care. The conversation also touched on alternative care approaches, the role of telehealth in enhancing specialty care access, and the need for innovations and policy changes to secure equitable access to care across all demographics and regions.

The importance of leveraging technology to improve access to healthcare

The panelists emphasized the essential role of digital health in improving access to healthcare, particularly for patients with chronic conditions requiring ongoing management. They shared various ways their organizations were utilizing telehealth to overcome barriers and challenges in care delivery.

Dr. Rima Shah mentioned how her organization, Coral Health, implemented alternate care approaches such as virtual ICUs, remote patient monitoring for chronic disease management, and a 24/7 virtual urgent care service. She shared, “We know that healthcare is becoming costly. So how can we leverage technology and provide that access and also prevent unnecessary emergency department visits hospitalizations by being more proactive than reactive.”

Stephanie Lewis, from Orlando Health, shared how they were leveraging clinical decision support tools for detecting strokes and predictive analytics for risk readmission rates. She emphasized the need for cautious embracing of AI technologies and the importance of understanding how these tools can drive innovation and patient outcomes.

The role of technology in enhancing operational efficiency and quality of care

The speakers agreed on the importance of balancing the need for operational efficiency with maintaining and improving the quality of care. They discussed the role of technology in achieving this balance, with Alvin Wells pointing out that technology allows for the tiering of patients based on need, which improves efficiency and patient outcomes.

Alvin Wells stated that AI and digital health technologies can be leveraged to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and ensure patients receive timely care. He explained, “And that’s where digital health plays a role. So I think, is a part of our aspects of how we do clinic.”

Stephanie Lewis added that Orlando Health uses predictive analytics to anticipate patient outcomes such as high-risk readmissions. “We use predictive analytics. So that we can predict patient outcomes, you know, such as high-risk readmissions,” she said.

The role of digital health in future-proofing care delivery

The panelists believed strongly in the potential of digital health for the future of care delivery. They shared examples of how their organizations are leveraging digital health to future-proof care delivery and how these innovative approaches are changing the healthcare landscape.

Alvin Wells explained that digital health allows for a new way of providing care that is more convenient and efficient for both patients and providers. He said, “I think if organizations, if even private practice doctors are not doing a digital health, have a digital health component. Unfortunately, going to be left behind.”

Rima Shah added that digital health could help to solve issues such as increasing demand for healthcare, rising costs, and a shrinking workforce. “When I think about access, when we think about convenience, when we think about workforce. I think that digital technology is going to be so important in solving for a lot of these as one of the solutions for some of those issues that we are seeing,” she said.

Stephanie Lewis emphasized that digital health solutions help healthcare organizations evolve and drive innovation in treatment methods. She said, “I think we need to not only future proof delivery with innovations like AI. But I think we need to be also cautiously embracing it.”