As the pressure of shortages continues to mount, hospitals are turning to virtual nursing to alleviate stress and connect patients with more resources. These three hospitals and systems have recently expanded or implemented the practice:

Rates of follow-up appointments in physicians offices have remained steady over the past three years, but follow-ups after telehealth appointments are slightly more likely, according to a report published Jan. 9 by Epic Research.

A new partnership between Teladoc and Aramark will allow hospitals to connect registered dietitians with their patients using cloud-based technology.

Hartford, Conn., residents will have a new option to receive healthcare where they shop.

Georgia physicians once again have the ability to prescribe controlled substances to telehealth patients without an in-person visit. 

As COVID-19-era telehealth regulations expire, lawmakers and industry advocates aim to finalize telehealth regulations in three areas, Bloomberg Law reported Dec. 29.

Rochester (N.Y.) Regional Health has made significant strides to improve patient care access over the last year.

A 45- to 59-minute telehealth urgent care visit from New York City-based Mount Sinai cost one patient $660, raising questions as the price was extremely high for a virtual visit and as the appointment was ruled out of network by an insurer, NPR reported Dec. 19. 

Peoria, Ill.-based OSF Healthcare is launching a telehealth education program as it looks to expand care to patients in rural communities. 

A study conducted by digital health company Panda Health revealed that among digital hospital tools, virtual nursing has the least widespread adoption and is perceived as having the most exaggerated value. Health systems that have implemented it say otherwise. 

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Corewell Health is leaning into telehealth as it looks to expand its oncology care services, local news outlet Fox17 reported Dec. 15.

Charlottesville, Va.-based UVA Health is partnering with Swinfen Charitable Trust, Telemedicine AI and Mitre to boost global telehealth access.

Telehealth visits are down from their peak in the second quarter of 2020 but remain above pre-pandemic levels, according to research conducted by Epic.

Fort Myers, Fla.-based Lee Health has introduced a telemedicine service utilizing asynchronous messaging, enabling patients to engage in real-time conversations with Lee Health physicians for a fee of $29 per visit.

Allegheny Health Network and Highmark Health, both based in Pittsburgh, have launched a new teleICU program spanning across six hospitals.  

University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center is partnering with Five Star Bank to launch health stations that will connect rural patients with live, on-demand telehealth visits.

The Biden administration is implementing measures to support the sustainability of healthcare providers in rural areas that include support access for telehealth services and bolstering cybersecurity. 

CMS has published a final rule Nov. 2 outlining policy adjustments for Medicare payments for telehealth through the physician fee schedule and various Medicare Part B matters, which will be in effect from Jan. 1 onward.

During a session at the 8th Annual Becker's Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Meeting, Cynthia Horner, MD, vice president with Amwell Medical Group, and Kathleen Mazza, PhD, RN, senior advisor for population health informatics at New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health, discussed the use of artificial intelligence and automation in healthcare. 

In January, Allegheny Health Network's Forbes Hospital, based in Monroeville, Pa., will initiate a telehealth trial with 47 beds that enables a nurse located in Allegheny Center to welcome newly admitted patients and provide discharge instructions to those heading home, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Oct. 28.