4 Benefits of Virtual Specialty Clinics

Virtual specialty clinics deliver advanced care that used to be available only through in-person visits. Innovative digital technologies make these services more accessible to people with costly chronic health issues. This approach delivers targeted specialty care with the utmost efficiency.

What Is Virtual Specialty Care?

Like telehealth services from brick-and-mortar providers, virtual specialty clinics connect patients and providers through digital platforms to discuss health concerns. This is where the similarities end.  

Virtual specialty clinics are among the point solutions transforming the digital health landscape with personalized online chronic disease care. Their capabilities include:

• Focusing on a single complex health condition, such as musculoskeletal issues, mental health, diabetes and hypertension

• Delivering end-to-end chronic disease care that may include remote diagnosis, lifestyle coaching and ongoing monitoring

• Offering integrated services from multiple providers for a seamless online experience

• Providing a connected patient experience with features that include real-time data sharing and specialty care patient portals

Virtual Specialty Clinic Benefits

Virtual specialty providers make remote care delivery more efficient, benefiting patients, payers and plan administrators. People with potentially costly diseases have more options for managing their health. Payers and plan sponsors see marked improvements in patient outcomes and cost containment.  

Here’s a look at virtual specialty clinic benefits in more detail:  

1. Improved access

Virtual specialty clinics put chronic disease care in the hands of people who need it most. Large networks let patients get appointments quickly, bypassing months-long wait lists for in-person providers.  

Virtual care benefits people who find who can’t easily get to on-premises clinics – whether due to financial, mobility, transportation or geographic hurdles. People who need evening or weekend appointments and individuals with mobility issues receive timely services. Virtual specialty providers also eliminate the need to travel, improving access for people in rural and underserved areas.

2. High-quality services

Licensed, experienced clinicians, many of whom are leaders in their respective specialties, provide virtual specialty services. They are often part of multidisciplinary teams including nurses, pharmacists and ancillary providers. Teams follow the same best-practice guidelines as their in-person counterparts, ensuring expert care at every encounter.

Remote monitoring capabilities allow real-time feedback, making it possible to manage chronic conditions proactively. If a patient has elevated blood pressure or glucose levels, for example, teams coordinate personalized interventions, potentially avoiding expensive complications.  

3. Reduced cost

Virtual specialty providers reduce tcosts. Out-of-pocket costs for enrollees are typically lower than in-person encounters. Visits are also less expensive for payers and plan sponsors because they are not on the hook for facility fees and other operating costs associated with on-premises providers.

Cost reduction is also achieved from increased productivity and decreased absenteeism. Employees receiving virtual specialty provider care need less time off for appointments. And the preventive approach leads to fewer sick days and hospitalizations.

4. Value-based care

Virtual specialty clinics support value-based care through integration and continuity. Secure data exchange between digital platforms and a patient’s in-person care team makes communication efficient for high-risk cases. This capability makes it easier to manage transitions between care settings and follow-ups after a chronic disease flare-up.  

Patients receive timely, high-quality care tailored to their needs, lowering the likelihood of unnecessary and costly treatments. Frequent virtual touchpoints also support better outcomes at the individual and population level. It enhances patients’ experience and overall satisfaction with their care.  

The Solera HALO™ Platform & Solera’s Coast-to-Coast Partner Network

Solera Health offers a one-of-a-kind network of virtual specialty care clinics among its other virtual health providers. It includes solutions with proven clinical outcomes from cardiometabolic to women’s health.  

“At Solera, we're redefining and streamlining digital healthcare delivery. Our platform navigates the intersection of healthcare and technology, offering curated, best-fit solutions with a unified experience for patients and customers,” says Ted Hong, EVP and Chief Engagement and Marketing Officer.

The HALO™ Platform improves access to high-quality services. It’s a thoughtful service delivery that reduces the need for costly specialty interventions. It helps more patients, payers and plan administrators recognize the benefits of value-based care.

Learn More About Virtual Specialty Clinics Available Through Solera Health

Solera Health’s virtual specialty care approach reduces chronic disease's financial impact.  

Read more in Solera’s recent report on harnessing virtual health to impact the cost of care by up to 3.1%.

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