July 13, 2020
In a focus group discussion with several healthcare CIO’s last week, the one thing that caught me by surprise was how telehealth volumes have dropped off across the board from the peak levels following the pandemic. We had included a report here from the Commonwealth Fund on this trend a couple of weeks ago. The reasons for the drop off are many, and don’t reveal a full picture yet. However, as we enter the second half of the year, telehealth companies seem to be anticipating continued growth, as indicated by multiple funding rounds for new capital, the latest being Doctor on Demand.
Digital Health funding and M & A activity seem to be headed for record levels as well, pandemic or no pandemic.
My latest podcast guests are Mike Alkire, President at Premier Inc. and Dr. Jonathan Slotkin, Vice Chair of Neurosurgery and Associate Chief Medical Informatics Officer at Geisinger. They discuss the new syndromic COVID-19 surveillance tool launched at several health systems recently. Take a listen.
Finally, this week we are asking for a favor: We have been delivering this newsletter into your inboxes every week for the past 3 years, and our subscription list has grown steadily. Our business has grown and changed during this time, as have the information needs for our readers. We are looking at ways to improve this newsletter and keep it relevant with changing times. I request a few minutes of your time for this brief three-question survey. We will use your inputs in our planned launch of a revised newsletter in the coming weeks.
Digital transformation in healthcare: our picks for the week
CMS issues guidance for new telehealth eCQM reporting in 2020 and 2021
CMS publishes the detailed guidance on how healthcare providers should be documenting and reporting electronic clinical quality measures for telehealth encounters.
Halfway in, 2020 looks like a banner year for digital health M&As, with 35 deals
Breakdown of M & A in the digital health space. Although most deals are undisclosed and some are partial asset acquisitions, the numbers undeniably show a busy year for the space.
Doctor On Demand collects $75M Series D
Like its competitors, the telehealth provider highlighted a major increase in business since COVID-19.
2020 Midyear Digital Health Market Update: Unprecedented funding in an unprecedented time
VC firm Rock Health’s mid-year review indicates US digital health companies raised $5.4 billion in venture funding across the first six months of 2020. Large deals are once again driving the overall trend as average deal size hit a record $25.1 million in H1.
Walgreens plans to open up to 700 primary care clinics as part of $1B investment in VillageMD
Walgreen’s reach into primary care is an indicator of how the healthcare sector is getting transformed by non-traditional players.
VA taps Philips for 10-year, potentially $100M telehealth critical care contract
The longtime partners will build out what they’re calling the world’s largest-ever remote intensive care system, as the VA is poised for a significant increase in IT funding.
How wearable tech can enable seamless RPM during COVID-19
Patients have generally gone to their doctor’s offices to obtain remote monitoring devices –but the pandemic is proving they do not have to.
A recent study suggests that individuals’ perceptions of and reactions to COVID-19 screening hotlines are affected by their trust in its source and how they believe the service is being delivered.
Note: Some of the articles linked in this newsletter may be behind paywalls that need a subscription.
The latest from Damo Consulting
“The nation needs an automated, real-time, effective syndromic surveillance system to detect COVID-19.”
White paper: The CMS Final Rule on Interoperability and Patient Access
Our latest white paper contains a detailed summary of the Interoperability and Patient Access Final Rule and the 21st Century Cures Act, along with technical and implementation standards.
‘A Model for Digital Transformation.’
The WITCH Report: Annual Review
A review of the financial and market performance of global technology consulting firms in healthcare.
eBook: COVID-19 Telehealth Program – Highlights of the CARES Act
A complimentary e-book on highlights of the COVID-19 CARES Telehealth Program by FCC.
White paper: What health systems must do to accelerate digital transformation
This white paper explores how health systems can accelerate digital transformation.
The WITCH Monthly Monitor (June) – Our monthly update on major global IT consulting and services firms in healthcare provides latest financial and market performance updates on WITCH companies along with other global IT consulting firms.
* The WITCH Monthly Monitor is now available as free 1-year subscription with every purchase of The WITCH Report – Annual Review ($395).
