It is proven that primary care physicians are playing an important role in reducing healthcare utilization through preventive care and in enhancing care coordination. With an estimated 565 million primary care visits and shortage of 35000 primary care physicians by the year 2025, the healthcare utilization will go up drastically. An ageing population and insurance expansion will be the greatest drivers for this utilization. Primary care physicians are already facing a high burnout rate and the situation will continue to deteriorate.
While the patient-provider relationship is core to medical practice and key for enhanced quality care, long wait time and indirect cost associated per visit is not at all encouraging.
That said, telemedicine solutions have proven to be promising. They address the concern of access to affordable care and increasing patient engagement. Virtual care 2.0 will be advanced telemedicine solutions augmenting the power of artificial intelligence