A direct-to-consumer partnership now offers memberships to zero-copay telemedicine with free prescription drugs through Amazon, according to a Nov. 2 Daily Record report.

The pandemic accelerated telehealth adoption across care settings. Clinicians are now more comfortable with technology and telehealth workflows, and patients are demanding the convenience and ease of virtual visits, which means this is a trend that will likely continue.

Health systems across the nation ramped up telehealth services this year due to the pandemic, and the rapid growth of these services has highlighted several opportunities and challenges. 

The NYC Test & Trace Corps, a COVID-19 testing initiative led by NYC Health + Hospitals and the NYC Department of Health, partnered with clinical telehealth provider Essen Health Care to deploy mobile testing units Nov. 2 to underserved neighborhoods.

SOC Telemed closed its business combination with Healthcare Merger Corp. Oct. 30, officially establishing the combined company on the Nasdaq Stock Market at an initial value of around $720 million. 

Teladoc Health announced Oct. 30 that it has completed its merger with Livongo, a consumer health company that provides digital health services for chronic conditions and behavioral health. 

Rome (N.Y.) Memorial Hospital's cardiology department plans to roll out a Bluetooth stethoscope that allows physicians to monitor patients' heartbeat without being physically in the room, according to an Oct. 28 WTSM report.

While telehealth usage has skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to expanded insurance coverage and relaxed restrictions, the future of virtual care in the U.S. healthcare system will rely on permanent reimbursement practices and continued tech innovations. 

Closing gaps in care by promoting regular wellness visits contributes widely to improved quality of care and overall population health, while decreasing costs.

Retaining skilled talent is an important priority for hospitals and health systems looking to provide the highest quality care at all times.