How Telehealth Technology Is Transforming Virtual Healthcare

Telehealth is a key part of the future of medicine, with 87% of surveyed doctors on Sermo agreeing that its use will continue to increase. As video conferencing and collaboration technology improves, more and more doctor’s visits can take place remotely and more health care providers and patients have access to the benefits of telehealth. 

So, what is telehealth? It is patient care received without being in the same location as the practitioner, typically using video conferencing technology for virtual visits, but also embracing remote sensors and the use of phone applications to track health indicators. It also includes situations where patients might visit a clinic and be examined by a nurse, then talk to the doctor remotely, or where a specialist or a member of a care team might be brought in virtually. 

Telehealth technology can help manage chronic conditions, maintain wellness, or assist in handling emergencies in remote locations. It can also reduce the movement of people with contagious diseases, potentially reducing spread and preventing another pandemic. 

How telehealth technology is transforming virtual healthcare 

Virtual healthcare has a long history. Doctors and other healthcare practitioners would talk to patients over the phone and conduct basic health screening, but the limitations of this were obvious. However, during the COVID pandemic, telemedicine took off. With patients unwilling or unable to come in for consultations, virtual visits using video conferencing software were the obvious solution. As technology developed, secure platforms specifically for medicine entered the picture. 

Wearables and monitoring devices allow doctors to keep an eye on blood pressure, blood sugar, oxygen levels, and more without being physically located with the patient, and smartphone apps support wellness as well as turning phones into “medical tricorders” that can read patient data. 

While only 28% of surveyed doctors on Sermo offer telehealth frequently, continued improvements in technology and acceptance mean it is here to stay. According to an urgent care doctor in Spain, “Telemedicine came during the pandemic to stay. In my workplace, not only sophisticated devices of remote monitoring are common, but the use of the classic telephone to replace medical acts that until recently no one considered in a non-face-to-face manner.ˮ 

Why consider a telehealth job?

For doctors and other health care providers, a pure or part-time telehealth job can provide a lot of benefits. Telehealth benefits communities and providers alike for three main reasons: 

Comfort and convenience  

The first is increased convenience. Many doctors can work from home and only travel to the clinic to provide services which must be done in person. Therapists may not even need an office at all. This is also true for specialists who work on analysing images; work which can be done from anywhere.  

Doctors no longer need to waste time commuting to a clinic every day, improving work-life balance dramatically. Virtual visits can be conducted from home or another practice location, and doctors can move from one patient consult to another more quickly, reducing the risk of being late.  

Control of infectious diseases  

Doctors are at risk of catching every “bug” that might be circulating. Telehealth protects doctors by limiting their contact with infected patients and allowing patients to be evaluated without coming into the office. Reduced exposure to disease benefits the community by limiting spread, and keeps patients who must be treated in person safe during their appointments. This is especially beneficial for those who are already immunocompromised.  

With modern technology, doctors can diagnose and treat seasonal colds, COVID, and flu remotely. A combination of rapid home testing and telemedicine promises to make future respiratory illness seasons a breeze. 

Primary care and chronic condition management  

Much of primary care and chronic condition management, including prescribing medication, can be done remotely. While some things do require that the patient be seen face-to-face, such as pulling labs, this can be done quickly and easily, and regular follow-up consults can be done using telehealth technology. A doctor on Sermo shared their view, “Telehealth simply means providing health care at a distance rather than face-to-face. We are leading the way in using telehealth technology to help people manage their conditions, maintain their health and well-being, and live independently.”  

For patients in more remote locations, getting care for conditions such as migraines or diabetes remotely can improve patient compliance and outcomes. If a patient has to drive two hours for every visit, not uncommon in rural areas, then they are far more likely to cancel. 

Telehealth can also be used for triage, where patients might contact a practitioner remotely and find out whether they need to come in or whether they should, for example, treat their cold at home. Alternatively, the doctor can direct them to the ER directly if needed. 

Telehealth solutions: 10 tech advancements you need to know  

Telehealth technology has come a long way from the traditional phone hotline, and a variety of new tech devices and applications are making telehealth more useful to doctors. These include: 

Screening and engaging patients remotely  

As mentioned, telehealth can also be used for triage and screening. Patients are more likely to be engaged if they are first met where they are – especially younger generation patients who are used to living their lives online and may be more comfortable with virtual visits. Online lifestyle coaching can help prepare for surgery, while patients with infectious disease can be kept out of healthcare facilities as much as possible.  

Digital front doors  

Healthcare is often behind on digital scheduling. It’s not uncommon, in 2025, to still have to call your doctor to make an appointment. However, many practices are catching up. Digital front doors allow patients to schedule an appointment online, then allow the practice to support the patient with personalised reminders. 

Virtualised check-in reduces the need to talk to front desk staff and in larger facilities patients can be directed to the appropriate waiting room, bypassing reception, or able to wait outside or in their car. 

Remote digital imaging  

Provider-to-provider telehealth is a huge part of the picture. We’ve already mentioned bringing in a specialist virtually through telemedicine. 

Remote imaging enables expert imaging technologists to remotely train, guide, and assist less experienced or specialised colleagues in satellite locations, providing more convenient service to patients in smaller towns and rural locations. 

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)  

Self-monitoring is key to management for many chronic diseases, such as diabetes. Remote monitoring, however, takes things a step further by allowing providers to monitor patients in their own home. Doctors can directly monitor things like blood pressure and sugar levels via remote monitoring devices and wearables. 

This allows, for example, earlier discharge after surgery, with improved options and for more procedures to be done on an outpatient basis, saving costs. In some cases, follow-up visits can even be done through telemedicine. It also allows for real-time remote monitoring of many chronic conditions, with the patient receiving an alert if a problem shows up. 

“I really think that technology can always help medical science. This telehealth initiative (telehealth enabled apps) can positively impact health maintenance and help improve clinical outcomes. Things like BP control, sugar control, exercise are all controlled by this technology advancement.” – an ophthalmologist and Sermo member. 

AI-powered diagnosis and virtual assistants  

Virtual assistants can allow practices to answer simple questions without the direct input of a person. Modern AI-powered virtual assistants can do very basic triage and even make the patient an appointment (virtual or in person) as needed. 

And AI can help with diagnosis by providing, for example, a quick comparison to screening libraries of various skin conditions. While AI cannot replace a doctor, it can certainly make their life easier. This is another way telemedicine can mitigate provider shortages. Furthermore, according to a Cuban doctor on Sermo, “Over the years, advances in digital technology in the field of medicine have increased, advances that have come to stay and to help us develop multiple operations that are practically impossible for humans.” 

Live video conferencing apps 

Phone has limitations. With video, the doctor can see the patient’s presentation and behaviours and the patient may be more comfortable, which is especially helpful in psychiatry – a patient in their own home is more likely to relax and talk openly. Most telehealth visits now take place using live, secure video conferencing apps, typically end-to-end encrypted. 

Mobile health (mHealth) apps  

Mobile health is a major growth area within telemedicine. People are more and more dependent on their smartphones and tablets, although some elderly people may still not own one. 

mHealth apps are designed to allow patients to take charge of their own health, directing them to appropriate specialists, taking into account their schedule, and expanding services. Patients create their own account and support push notifications for reminders. Virtual visits can take place within the app itself. 38% of doctors on Sermo agreed that mobile app enabled initiatives can definitely improve health maintenance, while a further 56% thought they could improve health maintenance at least “sometimes.”  

Electronic pill dispensers  

Medication management is a challenge for many people with chronic conditions, especially if they are older. 

Electronic pill dispensers can remind people to take their meds, display the last time they were opened (so they can tell whether they already took their pill), and help support odd schedules, such as pills taken every three days. Smart dispensers can even be programmed remotely by the provider, changing the dose frequency as needed. They can also be used to monitor patient compliance with health care. 

Patient portal  

Many primary care providers now offer a patient portal, as do insurance companies. Patients can easily access their appointment times, medication details, and other clinical information. Patients and doctors can also communicate securely through the portal, saving time and allowing for quick conversations or for lab results to be provided to a patient without the need for a visit. 

Personal health apps  

Another aspect of mobile health is personal health apps. Many of these are closer to wellness apps, helping people keep to a diet, stay fit, get better sleep, etc. For example, they might provide a variety of workouts that can be used to craft a fitness programme, recommend stress management techniques like meditation, and track food consumption.  

These health apps allow patients to take control of their health and provide access to health coaching for people who couldn’t otherwise afford it. 

Health provider collaboration  

Last, but not least, modern telehealth has supported a huge increase in shared communication between health providers. Whether it’s prescriptions being sent automatically to the patient’s pharmacist when they are written, or coordination of the care team for a child with physical and mental issues, improved communication helps all providers work together. 

10 telehealth benefits & limitations  

Telehealth is amazing, although it does have some limitations. These can be mitigated but should be considered when you implement telehealth in your practice. 

Some benefits: 

1. Improved access to care for people who live in rural areas or far from main treatment centers. 
2. Reduced transmission of infectious disease by limiting movement of infected persons. 
3. Improved access to care for disabled people, elderly people with mobility issues, people who have busy schedules, and people who have limited access to reliable transport. 
4. Easier access to medical specialists, including global peers. 
5. Improved coordination of care between team members and the patient. 

Some limitations: 

1. Some services simply cannot be provided remotely. A provider sometimes needs to make a physical examination, or draw blood for testing, to correctly determine a diagnosis. 
2. Insurance may not cover the cost of telehealth and virtual consultations. 
3. Technology can fail and interruptions in service or tech failures can interrupt a visit. Doctors must ensure a back-up method of communication is available.  
4. AI-driven diagnostics and triage only work for simple conditions and may not be suitable for patients with a complex medical history. 
5. Access to care is limited to those who have internet devices and can afford tech devices. In rural areas, it can be impacted by poor connectivity and reduced bandwidth. Some patients may rely on public spaces to connect to the internet, risking privacy concerns. 

Improvements in AI and EHR (Electronic Health Records) will mitigate some of these limitations, but there will always be situations in which doctors need to see a patient face-to-face. 

Immerse yourself in telehealth technology on Sermo  

Telehealth medicine and technology is part of the modern doctor’s future. Want to learn how your peers are embracing telehealth in their practice? Join discussions on topics like these on Sermo, where you can connect with global peers, contribute to medical research, and earn for your insights.