The Evolution of Telehealth: From Rural Access Game-Changer to Every Hospital’s Workforce Enabler

We pretend the "Cloud" is a limitless information highway - it's not. Too many cars (bits & bytes) traveling from the hospital and back will limit the future of video for inpatient care.

In a remarkably short time span, telehealth has transformed from a solution aimed at addressing rural America's biggest healthcare access challenges to becoming an essential tool in modern hospital settings across the board.

This evolution has been marked by a series of technological advancements, each catering to different needs and circumstances. Let's trace telehealth’s journey from its humble beginnings to its pivotal role in addressing workforce shortages within modern hospitals.

Bridging the Rural Divide

Telehealth first emerged as a lifeline for rural communities with limited access to healthcare services. Given the average, small-town American lives at least 30 minutes from the nearest hospital , according to Pew Research Center, this virtual solution was revolutionary for making medical professionals available on-demand.

Yet, the early versions of telehealth faced significant challenges due to limited bandwidth, requiring expensive equipment and specialized software like SIP-enabled devices from companies like Cisco and Polycom. This limitation was partially overcome by companies like InTouch (now Teladoc), which employed innovative architectures that prioritized stable connections over high video quality.

Transition to Consumer Convenience

As telehealth matured, it found new applications as a convenience tool for the "walking well" – individuals seeking healthcare services for non-urgent issues. The technology transitioned from dedicated hardware to utilizing personal devices like laptops, smartphones and tablets.

Cloud-based platforms such as Zoom and Twilio provided the infrastructure for direct-to-consumer telehealth services, enabling patients to connect with healthcare providers seamlessly. However, these strategies were not without their limitations, particularly when it came to addressing the unique demands of modern hospitals.

Telehealth's Role in Hospital Workforce Shortages

Fast forward to the present day, where telehealth has evolved into a crucial enabler in addressing workforce shortages within modern hospitals. With the increasing demands on healthcare systems, the need for efficient and effective communication among healthcare professionals, patients and family members has become paramount. However, the traditional, cloud-based telehealth solutions still faced challenges in hospitals that heavily relied on video network requirements.

Bandwidth & Latency Issues in Hospitals

Hospitals of the future are expected to have video-enabled rooms for enhanced patient care and communication. However, the demands on hospital networks can easily surpass the available bandwidth. Cloud-based telehealth solutions that involve sending video data up to the cloud and back can lead to performance issues and latency concerns. This is where a new approach comes into play.

Pioneering a New Path: Intranet & Cloud Hybrid

In response to these challenges, Vitalchat has taken a unique approach to AI-driven telehealth architecture. We recognize that the hospital environment requires a tailored solution that balances performance and reliability.

Obsessed with continuous innovation, we have a patented network conservation model that leverages hospital intranet without on-prem servers rather than cloud-based video to slash bandwidth requirements up to 20-fold.

Simultaneously, cloud-based architecture remains in place for remote visits, ensuring flexibility for external providers and family members. Our mobile app seamlessly connects EMTs to the nearest hospital to determine whether patients should be transported or cared for on-site.

As a result, hospitals experience higher performance at a lower cost, better patient health outcomes and reduced provider turnover.

Explore our inpatient telehealth software solutions and watch the demo to see what’s possible for your hospital.