OREANDA-NEWS. According to new research from Xerox, 61 percent of U.S. adults are willing to receive non-urgent healthcare advice, exams or counseling in a virtual setting; however, only 16 percent have used virtual health. Xerox hopes to increase that number with the launch of Virtual Health Solutions, allowing healthcare providers to meet patients’ demand for convenient, remote access to care.

The new solution helps providers integrate a comprehensive telehealth strategy within their mainstream care delivery system. For example, Xerox will ensure coordinated access to electronic health records (EHRs) and provide reliable technology infrastructure to support the delivery of virtual care. Patients will benefit by having improved access to healthcare services such as prescription refills, dermatology screenings, health and wellness coaching, post-surgical follow-ups and psychiatric care and counseling, among others.

According to the research, 77 percent are excited about the possibility of receiving healthcare virtually. Convenience was cited as the top benefit (59 percent), followed by potential cost savings (40 percent) and the ability to see or communicate with healthcare professionals for minor ailments and the option to easily refill prescriptions – both 35 percent.

To help healthcare providers take advantage of patients’ interest in virtual care, Xerox will create a customized combination of consulting, services and technology based on a provider’s specific telehealth goals.

  • Virtual Health Consulting Services: Xerox will work with clients to develop virtual health strategies to help them reduce cost and utilization, deliver better outcomes, increase access to care and improve patient experience. The process includes a customized strategy session with each healthcare organization to understand their virtual health goals, an analysis of their current initiatives and offerings and an evaluation of their local market’s needs.
  • Interface Design and Development Services: The solution helps overcome interoperability challenges associated with telehealth by connecting multiple healthcare systems – even those that have never been connected before – and allows healthcare providers to easily verify a patient’s identity and medical history. The solution can also automatically determine a patient’s insurance eligibility and seamlessly move information in and out of EHRs for documentation and billing needs.  
  • Virtual Clinic Services: Front and back office services are powered by Xerox and allow providers to connect with patients in a virtual setting. A Xerox customer care agent will coordinate insurance verification, appointment pre-authorization and scheduling, payment processing and claims preparation, submission, tracking and reconciliation, providing the same type of familiar experience patients receive at an in-person doctor visit.

“Healthcare organizations need to prepare for an ‘anytime, anywhere’ paradigm – one in which care is typically delivered outside the four walls of a hospital,” said Connie Harvey, chief operating officer, Xerox Healthcare Business Group. “We understand that healthcare organizations are in very different places when it comes to their telehealth strategy. Our approach to virtual health allows us to provide customized services based on a client’s specific needs.”

“Xerox has the portfolio and expertise needed to help healthcare providers implement a telehealth strategy that not only meets patient expectations for convenience but also works seamlessly with other clinical and financial systems – no easy task,” said Barbra Sheridan McGann, executive vice president, Business Operations Research, HfS Research.