Physician Shortages: How Telehealth Integration Can Fill the Gap

Understanding the shortages

A March 2024 report from the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts a primary care physician shortage of roughly 20,200 to 40,400. And like the patients they serve, physicians are aging. Those 65 or older comprise 20% of the clinical physician workforce, and those between 55 and 64 make up 22%, according to that same report.

The nursing situation isn't much better: More than a quarter of nurses report that they plan to leave nursing or retire over the next five years, according to the most recent National Nursing Workforce Survey.

Shortages are particularly acute in underserved areas, including rural communities. Roughly 20% of Americans live in rural areas, but only 10% of physicians work there. Moreover, only 1% of U.S. medical training programs are located in rural communities, according to a 2023 review published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Integrated, innovative, and intelligent technologies can combat the effects of these shortages and improve patient access to care.

Seamless telehealth integration and enhanced access with communications APIs

Communications APIs allow different software applications to exchange data seamlessly. They provide secure platforms for patient interactions, ensuring data remains protected across integrated systems and applications. APIs support real-time consultations as well as remote patient monitoring, making high-quality care available to patients regardless of their location. And they allow for the integration of RPM into telehealth systems. With RPM, practices can expand provider accessibility and streamline patient/provider communication, even when physical access isn't possible.

Vonage offers a suite of communications APIs that enhance telehealth and RPM integration, enabling seamless communication and care. Here are some hypothetical examples of this technology in action:

• Vonage Video API enables high-quality, HIPAA security-designed video consultations to patients.One hypothetical example is Jackson, 53, concerned about a growth on his forehead, lives 100 miles from the nearest specialist, but he can consult with a top-tier dermatologist virtually. Mary, 75, who no longer drives, can still check in with her primary care physician to discuss changes in her HbA1C levels remotely. She doesn't even need to go in for a test, because Mary's glucose monitor is connected to the doctor's integrated telehealth system.
• Vonage Voice API uses voice-enabled virtual agents for appointment scheduling, reminders, and other patient communications. It's all automated, so no one on staff has to spend valuable time making reminder calls, scheduling appointments, or answering calls to schedule a visit. For example a night owl can schedule appointments or check lab results at 3 a.m. and doesn't have to wait for the office to open. For more serious matters, AI-powered virtual agents can immediately triage a health situation and connect patients to the care they need, whether it's related to physical or mental health.
• Vonage Messages API allows for seamless communication through SMS and messaging apps. Here are some more hypotheticals to illustrate: Alex can communicate with her care team the way she wants to — in this case, using WhatsApp. Her mother, Lou, can use Facebook Messenger. This helps providers reach patients where they are, both literally and figuratively. Sending reminders to patients on an app they use regularly can help keep them engaged and reduce no-shows. And because patients can send quick questions — perhaps about a medication dosage — the clinicians and staff can respond in their own time, relieving their urgent workload burden and preventing unnecessary visits.
• Vonage Verify API ensures the right person is accessing the right data. It does this through two-factor authentication across communication channels, including SMS, WhatsApp, email, and even voice. This protects sensitive health information and enables HIPAA security compliance.

Each of these tools can help practices maintain continuity of care while alleviating the burden on care teams and staff. As the physician shortage exacerbates, full telehealth integration can help doctors and nurses do what they do best — provide high-quality patient care — more efficiently. And no matter which channels they choose, they know the communications are private and secure.

Expanded access to care

Integrated telehealth systems allow healthcare providers to reach more patients without increasing their workload since patients don't have to make it into the physical office. This is particularly beneficial for people in rural and other underserved areas. Deployed correctly, integrated telehealth services can begin to address care inequities by, among other things, enabling earlier diagnosis and allowing for more timely treatment. Neither Mary's lack of transportation nor Jackson's distance from town will prevent them from seeing a clinician.

At the same time, it helps medical practices streamline their workflows and see more patients without overburdening the care team. Jordan doesn't have to call the office to check on her prescriptions, make an appointment, or ask a question.

A robust telehealth solution is incomplete without integrated RPM, which allows for real-time monitoring and adjustments in treatment plans, providing continuous care for patients with chronic conditions.

RPM: Transforming patient care

RPM is quickly becoming indispensable to any telehealth system. It allows clinicians to collect and analyze patient data in real-time. This continuous monitoring means they can adjust treatments as needed and helps identify potential problems early, reducing the risk of complications and hospitalization.

RPM technologies, including wearable devices, mobile health apps, and connected medical devices, can offer personalized feedback, engaging patients and giving them the data they need to make informed health decisions. By integrating various sources of information, RPM can give healthcare professionals a fuller understanding of the patient and the tools to offer precise, personalized, and timely interventions.

Several recent studies bear this out:

• A 2024 paper in Cureus discusses RPM's role in improving chronic disease management, lowering healthcare costs, and promoting patient empowerment. Continuous monitoring supports early detection of health issues, allowing for timely interventions, which can minimize complications and reduce readmissions.
• A small study, also published in Cureus, found significant improvements in patient outcomes, increased satisfaction, and "substantial" cost savings associated with the use of RPM and telehealth.
• A 2023 literature review in The Permanente Journal found that healthcare professionals appreciate RPM's ability to detect early signs of deterioration, monitor vital signs, and enhance patient education.
• A 2024 review in npj Digital Medicine found that RPM may improve patient adherence to both medication and lifestyle prescriptions. For example, a smart pill dispenser could track when a patient takes their medication and send reminders if doses are missed. Clinicians can get involved quickly if the patient isn't taking their medicine.

RPM's ability to improve chronic disease management, enhance patient education, and provide personalized care outside the clinic can help address the physician shortage. It also positions medical practices to address evolving patient needs and expectations.

Moving forward with telehealth and RPM solutions

AI-powered customization delivers targeted content and results to each patient. For example, embedding secure voice, messaging, and video into healthcare apps enables flexible virtual care and continuous condition monitoring. Providing patient education when they need it and 24/7 digital access can help engage patients in their own healthcare journey.

Bringing myriad data points together gives providers a longitudinal view of patient data, creating a picture of the whole person, not just their conditions. When clinicians have this more holistic view of each patient, they are better able to meet patient needs, providing high-touch care supported by high-tech. At the same time, these AI-driven tools reduce administrative burdens on providers, allowing them to focus more on patient care, further alleviating the pressure from the physician shortage.

By integrating telehealth and RPM technologies, healthcare providers can prepare for a shrinking clinical pool, bridge gaps in access, and deliver higher-quality, patient-centered care. Medical practices that want to harness the full potential of these tools need a strategic approach to integration. That begins with selecting the right technology partner. Vonage can help.

To learn more about how Vonage CommunicationsAPIs can improve your care delivery, explore Vonage APIs for Healthcare.