Telehealth grew rapidly during the pandemic, serving more than just an immediate need. Many physicians found benefits like quicker care delivery and improved quality. Research shows that 85% of physicians said telehealth made care more timely, and 75% believed it supported high-quality care. Over 70% of physicians indicated they want to use telehealth more in the future.
Patients appreciate the convenience and easier access telehealth provides. Both patients and providers want telehealth to continue alongside in-person visits. This combined approach, described by the AMA as “digitally enabled care,” aims to blend virtual and physical healthcare options based on what each patient requires clinically.
Despite these advantages, there are challenges to keeping telehealth strong. Issues include inconsistent reimbursement rules, regulatory and licensing obstacles, privacy and security concerns, and the need to ensure telehealth matches in-person care quality. A coordinated response is necessary to overcome these problems, which is part of what the AMA’s Telehealth Immersion Program addresses.
The AMA’s Telehealth Immersion Program helps healthcare providers and organizations make the most of telehealth. It offers educational materials, peer learning, virtual discussions, and on-demand resources that focus on key operational and clinical matters related to telehealth.
The program addresses important questions faced by physicians and healthcare administrators, such as:
Answering these questions allows providers to make informed decisions and apply practical strategies. Including legal and billing teams early helps ensure compliance with complex reimbursement and licensure rules, which vary by state.
Those participating in immersion programs gain access to best practices that reduce barriers like inconsistent payments and interstate licensing confusion. The programs also provide guidance on documentation standards needed for billing accuracy and regulatory compliance. For healthcare administrators and IT managers, this approach supports smooth telehealth integration while managing costs and patient safety.
The AMA’s Telehealth Implementation Playbook complements the immersion program by outlining key considerations for adopting telehealth technology. It stresses evaluating clinical effectiveness, payment methods, liability, and workflow feasibility prior to implementation.
Introducing telehealth often takes time. Dr. Sarita Nori from Atrius Health notes, “Implementing a telehealth program is a winding road at first,” which requires patience and adaptability. Over time, the benefits for both providers and patients make the effort worthwhile.
The Playbook offers strategies for hospital administrators and practice owners to scale telehealth effectively. It encourages identifying specific needs, conducting thorough tech assessments, and staying updated on changing local and federal telehealth policies.
Telehealth allows for easier follow-up appointments, urgent care, and chronic disease management. This reduces the need for patients to travel, especially in rural or underserved regions where healthcare access is limited. Dr. Brent Wright of The University of Louisville School of Medicine notes telehealth can help older patients who have trouble with mobility.
It also cuts down on unnecessary in-person visits, lowering exposure to contagious illnesses. Dr. Russell Libby, a pediatrician and Physicians Foundation board member, highlights telehealth’s role in triaging during the COVID-19 outbreak, helping protect healthcare workers and the public.
Using telehealth more consistently can reduce missed appointments and improve health outcomes. Studies show patients report better experiences and engagement when they have telehealth options.
The AMA’s “Return on Health” model helps providers and payers look beyond typical financial returns when measuring telehealth’s value. It focuses on six areas:
This framework helps administrators and providers understand telehealth’s overall contribution, including improvements in equity and clinician satisfaction, in addition to financial factors.
Adding artificial intelligence (AI) and workflow automation to telehealth opens new ways to improve administrative tasks and patient communications. For example, AI-based phone systems can handle calls, appointment scheduling, and communication about remote visits efficiently.
Medical practice administrators and IT managers often face large patient call volumes. AI can reduce wait times and free up staff to focus more on clinical support. Automation tasks include confirming appointments, sending reminders, and handling patient questions.
Many AI systems use natural language processing, which allows for smoother, conversational interactions that improve patient experience.
Automation also helps with compliance and documentation by accurately recording calls and communications. This lowers errors from manual data entry and supports billing and regulatory record keeping.
When paired with digital clinical platforms, AI automation creates a smoother patient journey—from scheduling to consultation to follow-up. This helps healthcare organizations manage increased telehealth demand without a matching rise in administrative work.
Expanding and optimizing telehealth in the U.S. means navigating a complex mix of regulations and operations. Telehealth rules and reimbursements vary greatly between states, while federal policies continue to change based on public health needs.
Practice leaders should work with regional healthcare groups, legal experts, and payers early to clarify rules around interstate licensing and reimbursement. Programs like the AMA’s Telehealth Immersion Program provide guidance that reflects these differences and helps plan for policy updates.
The digital divide remains a concern in certain areas. To avoid worsening health disparities, telehealth expansion must also include efforts to improve access to technology and broadband internet. The Return on Health framework prioritizes health equity, highlighting the need for inclusive telehealth plans.
Telehealth’s expansion in the U.S. has shown its ability to improve access, keep care ongoing, and improve results. Educational programs and guides help healthcare organizations manage the technical, financial, and regulatory challenges. Coupling these with AI-driven workflow automation can further improve operations and support telehealth as a long-term part of patient care.
Telehealth represented less than 1% of the total health care volume in the United States prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than half of physicians used telehealth for the first time in the pandemic’s first few months.
85% indicated that telehealth increased timeliness of care.
75% said telehealth allowed them to deliver high-quality care.
More than 70% were motivated to increase telehealth use.
The AMA refers to this as ‘digitally enabled care,’ which integrates in-person and virtual care based on clinical appropriateness.
The framework aims to measure comprehensive value in terms of clinical outcomes, access to care, patient experience, clinician experience, financial impact, and health equity.
Physicians, health care organizations, payers, and policymakers can use the framework to develop and evaluate new care models.
The program guides organizations in optimizing and sustaining telehealth through best practices, expansion opportunities, and educational resources.
It includes a series of webinars, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, virtual discussions, and on-demand resources.
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