The conventional wisdom that the best care is delivered in-person by experienced caregivers may soon be overturned. Rising health care costs, a shortage of physicians, and an aging population are making the traditional model of care increasingly unsustainable. But new uses of virtual health and digital technologies may help the industry manage these challenges. A number of new technologies are helping to move elements of patient care from medical workers to machines and to patients themselves, allowing health care organizations to reduce costs by reducing labor intensity.
Virtual Health Care Could Save the U.S. Billions Each Year
Rising health care costs, a shortage of physicians, and an aging population are making the traditional model of care increasingly unsustainable. But new uses of virtual health and digital technologies may help the industry manage these challenges. New technologies are helping to move elements of patient care from medical workers to machines and to patients themselves, allowing health care organizations to reduce costs by reducing labor intensity. To explore the impact of virtual health in primary care, an Accenture analysis looked at the economic value of virtual health uses in three common care scenarios: an annual patient visit, ongoing patient management, and self-care. According to Accenture’s findings, uses of virtual health in these three scenarios could generate an economic value of approximately $10 billion annually across the U.S. health system over the next few years.