Done well, virtual-first care seamlessly expands access and keeps patients within an integrated network of care
Health systems are navigating an increasingly complex landscape — working to attract and retain patients who have lost trust in providers and systems, adapt to major health coverage changes, and compete with new care options such as direct-to-consumer services and payer-led networks.
Keeping patients attributed to the system is becoming more difficult, putting pressure on razor-thin margins and undermining efforts to deliver coordinated, high-quality care across the patient journey.
Forward-looking health systems can respond with a different approach: whole-person, virtual-first care delivery that honors patient choice, integrates deeply with the EMR, and operates in union with in-person care teams. Unlike traditional telehealth models, which focus on episodic engagement or require separate subscriptions, virtual-first care empowers patients to choose how, when, and where they receive care, while enabling long-term relationships with dedicated virtual care providers. For strained health systems, virtual-first care is an opportunity to offer patients more freedom, flexibility, confidence, and access while driving downstream referrals, strengthening continuity, and supporting sustainable revenue growth.
