Geisinger recognized as top telehealth network in the U.S.

DANVILLE, Pa. – Geisinger was recognized as a top telehealth network in the United States at the recent Telehealth Innovation Forum, hosted by Teladoc Health.

Geisinger was named one of four “Top Telehealth Innovators and Leaders,” earning the designation as the number-one national telehealth network for “redefining boundaries to expand access to care.”

Telehealth visits have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Geisinger providers conducting twice as many visits daily as the monthly total pre-COVID. Geisinger offers telehealth visits for primary care appointments and 72 specialties. Geisinger recently received a $979,000 grant from the Federal Communications Commission to further expand telehealth access through the purchase of equipment for hospitals and clinics.

“The growth in telehealth technology over the past several months has allowed our providers to connect with patients while minimizing physical contact during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said David Fletcher, Geisinger’s associate vice president for telehealth. “Our focus in this area ensures that our patients can maintain routine healthcare appointments, manage chronic conditions, and stay healthier overall while staying at home. We anticipate that telehealth will continue to be an important part of Geisinger’s healthcare model beyond the current pandemic.”

The Telehealth Innovation Awards recognize healthcare providers who have successfully implemented an innovative approach to their virtual care strategies to advance patient care. While each award category highlights telehealth’s ability to transform delivery models for organizations of all sizes, the insights collected from this year also highlight the vital role virtual care has in extending access to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Teladoc Health.

“Now, more than ever, healthcare providers are facing increased challenges to delivering care,” said Joseph DeVivo, president, hospital and health systems at Teladoc Health. “COVID has exponentially increased the number of hospitals and health systems utilizing virtual care platforms as well as expanded the use cases for those who had already deployed a virtual care platform. Through leadership and innovation, this year’s Telehealth Innovation Award winners are delivering patient care from post-op, to neonatology, to stroke and more, meeting patients where they are with excellence in care.”

For more information on telehealth at Geisinger, visit geisinger.org/telehealth.

About Geisinger
Geisinger is committed to making better health easier for the more than 1 million people it serves. Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes 10 hospital campuses, a health plan with more than half a million members, a research institute and the Geisinger College of Health Sciences, which includes schools of medicine, nursing and graduate education. With more than 25,000 employees and 1,700+ employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.