Blog Posts
OpenLoop, a leader in whitelabel telehealth support services powering virtual care across the country, has officially exceeded 90% coverage by nationwide insurance payers with OpenLoop’s network of credentialed clinicians. This further promotes client success by expanding access to in-network patient coverage through OpenLoop’s NCQA certified network of top quality providers. “OpenLoop’s in-network clinicians can now…
On May 2, 2022, Politico reported a supreme court initial draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito in favor of striking down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. It’s safe to say this sparked passionate debate from both sides. Though the opinion is not a final decision, many organizations, health companies, and of course patients, will be affected if it were to be overruled. Some digital startups focused…
Increased access and investment into telehealth services has encouraged greater independence among geriatric patients. The nature of virtual health care means older adults are able to stay in the comfort of their homes for longer. For patients receiving care in skilled nursing or assisted living facilities, telehealth allows seniors to easily dial into appointments with off-site clinicians. Taking away the stress of…
Interoperability. If you're in healthcare, it’s likely you’ve heard it before. But, what does it actually entail and why should it apply to you? To put it simply…it’s complicated. Right now, the United States healthcare system doesn’t have a universal set of standards in place for everyone to follow—which is causing headaches. However, as virtual healthcare continues to grow, interoperability is becoming increasingly…
Think back to those high school days. It might be further back for some of us, but do you recall there being an athletic trainer (AT) on staff? Well, if you came from a more rural area, chances are you don’t. According to a study from the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), 78% of high schools with low AT availability were located in rural or inner-city areas. With a specific focus on concussion management…
DES MOINES, IA | April 26, 2022 - OpenLoop, an expert in full-stack virtual care delivery services, today announced their Credentials Verification Organization (CVO) Certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). This comes on the heels of an $8M Series A investment round. NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving healthcare quality. This 12-month long certification…
When people think of virtual reality (VR), images of its more recreational uses often come to mind. However, its potential expands much farther than its entertainment value. Healthcare industries like telemedicine are utilizing its unique communication interface to perform life changing therapies and medical procedures. Every month, OpenLoop does a TrendWatch on hot topics, trendy technology, and industry news in…
Biomedical engineering is the application of the principles and problem-solving techniques of engineering to biology and medicine. However, humans have technically been using biotechnology, a broader term, for millennia through processes like fermentation. Yeah, that brewski in your fridge is the work of age-old biotechnology! For the purposes of this blog, though, we’re going to stick to the biomedical field…
The last few years have seen great strides in telepsychiatry. It’s becoming the preferable mode of treatment for certain populations as well as benefiting the practice overall. As of 2022, 19.86% of adults (nearly 50 million Americans) currently experience a mental illness of some kind. Of those, over half (56%) of adults with a mental illness received no treatment for their mental disorders in 2022. These stats are…
Over the past couple of decades, telehealth has slowly been inching its way into daily medical practice. Only in the last couple of years did it finally make its big leap and stick the landing in healthcare. With its increasing popularity, providers and healthcare organizations have started to notice the increased risk of medical malpractice with virtual care. With these visits solely relying on technology, there of…
DES MOINES, IA | March 15, 2022 - OpenLoop, a health tech leader delivering full stack clinical support to companies launching and scaling virtual care services across the nation, today announced their Series A financing of $8 million. The latest capital brings OpenLoop’s total raised to approximately $11 million. This round was led by SpringTide Ventures, a VC firm dedicated to improving the field of medicine by…
As healthcare organizations migrate to a more holistic and preventative approach to patient care, healthcare provider reimbursement models are doing the same. Experts in the healthcare industry are advocating for a change from the traditional fee-for-service model to the increasingly popular value-based care model. What does this mean? Read on to find out! Fee-for-Service vs Value-Based Care To understand why value…
As we are all aware, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the healthcare industry drastically. All care that could be done without an in-person interaction was transitioned to a virtual visit. One group that is reaping major benefits from this digital health model are seniors living independently, those in skilled nursing facilities, or those in assisted living facilities. In this blog, we are going to discuss the ways…
According to a survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), over 40 million Americans, 14.5% of the population, had a substance use disorder during 2020 and that number is steadily increasing. With more and more Americans struggling with addiction and other substance use disorders, the need for additional tools to care for these patients is bigger than ever. Great news…
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 6 in 10 adults in the United States have a chronic health condition… and this number is continuing to rise. With an increasing number of Americans being diagnosed with chronic conditions, the healthcare industry has been seeking an answer to better manage and treat these concerns. The answer? Telehealth. In this blog, we will be covering how telehealth is…
Virtual care has become a popular alternative for patients looking to be connected to a provider for a diagnosis, prescription refill, mental health treatment, and so much more. With telehealth sticking around for the long haul, the need for quality care and high patient satisfaction is becoming increasingly important. This brings up the question of ‘how do you measure that?’ Great news! As experts in the telehealth…
Did you know that home health care has been around for centuries? That’s probably a shock since it’s just now becoming a hot topic in the industry, but back in the day, it used to be the primary way for patients to receive care. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, home health care gained serious traction once again and is becoming an increasingly popular option for patients to explore. Although it’s been around for…
There is a growing concept floating around the healthcare world called “precision health”. You may have heard of it or maybe not, either way, we’re here to bring you up to speed. Whether you are a healthcare provider, a company offering care services, or a patient curious about treatment options, this is a blog you will want to stick around for! Keep scrolling for a deep dive into precision health and the reasons it…
The topic of insurance coverage for telehealth visits gets complex quickly. With the healthcare industry and insurance payer ecosystem still gaining their footing from the nonstop hits COVID-19 keeps bringing, there have been no final decisions on permanent coverage for virtual care visits. But, we do have a pulse on the current state of insurance coverage for telehealth, and insights from the experts on what the…
Whether you’re a telehealth company just getting started or one that’s been in the business for a while, you’ve probably heard the term ‘PC group’ thrown around on many occasions. What you may not be as familiar with is all of the intricacies that go into one that can make or break your organization’s regulatory compliance. Read on for everything you need to know about PC groups, including what they are, why they are…
It’s been a wild 12 months for our scaling company, for our clients breaking into this fast-paced telehealth environment, and for patients everywhere demanding expanded access to virtual care. We truly can’t believe how fast it went by with no signs of slowing in sight! 2021 was a huge year of growth for OpenLoop as we rose to meet the market’s demand for effective and user-friendly telemedicine services in all 5…
Reading this title might have you thinking, “What? How can fertility treatment be performed virtually?”. It’s a new, fascinating concept to wrap your head around yet one of the most rapidly growing specialty areas in telemedicine. In fact, a study conducted by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine found that nearly 90% of fertility clinics expect to continue offering telehealth as an option for their…
There are a lot of regulations to be aware of when launching a telehealth company. All of these rules make it very easy to slip up and unknowingly operate your business illegally. Obviously, that is something you want to avoid at all costs. To help maneuver these evolving laws, we put together this expert guide with everything you need to know to legally operate your company. We’re here to ensure you can start…
Telehealth is a relatively new space, which means you probably just started practicing virtual medicine or are looking to begin. For the most part, virtual visits are conducted much the same way as traditional visits, but there are a few differing steps you should take to get started off on the right foot. We put together this helpful checklist for you of all the areas to account for before, during, and after your…
Virtual care has been changing the game in healthcare for years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. With hospitals overwhelmed, it was more important than ever to quickly ramp up telehealth services to support patients for other illnesses and concerns without requiring everyone to be seen in person. Now, with the rapid advancements in telehealth delivery, any patient can be seen from anywhere virtually if…
The Technology Association of Iowa 2021 Prometheus Awards, presented by LWBJ, unites Iowa innovators and leaders from technology, business, education and government to celebrate the year’s most momentous achievements. We are proud to announce that OpenLoop was named Startup Technology Company of the Year at the 2021 Prometheus Awards. The Startup Technology Company of the Year is awarded to an early-stage Iowa…
Primary care physicians (PCPs) are the backbone of healthcare. Although other specialists and providers play an integral part in delivering essential care to patients, PCPs are traditionally the most trusted medical professionals in a patient’s life. The issue? PCPs and patients alike are facing some serious challenges when it comes to primary care delivery. But, have no fear, telehealth is here! The Challenges…
For those of you unfamiliar with OpenLoop, we wanted to take this chance to formally introduce (or reintroduce) ourselves. If you’re curious about what we do, who we partner with, and how we’re scaling, this blog post is for you! As you may expect from a company in the telehealth space, we’ve grown a TON since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. For us, that meant pivoting our business strategy only a few mere months…
The COVID-19 pandemic altered many aspects of our lives, healthcare delivery being a major one. In fact, overall telehealth usage surged 78 times higher than normal levels when the pandemic hit the United States. Regular office visits decreased significantly with some areas shutting down completely. The virus opened a door in healthcare that won’t be shut anytime soon: telehealth. The benefits that telehealth brings…
Looking to practice telehealth but unsure where to begin? You’re in luck! We know it can be hard transitioning into a new healthcare setting you aren’t familiar with. So, we put together a 6 step checklist to get started and thriving in delivering virtual patient visits. The Checklist Step 1: Update Your Resumé Updating your resumé is the first step to begin practicing telehealth as a medical professional. This can…
As you probably know, being in the healthcare industry, the competition is tough when applying for jobs. Typically, for the traditional, on-site physician role, hundreds of applications will be submitted. For telehealth opportunities? That number is significantly higher. Removing geographic restrictions means the application pool spans the entire United States rather than just the area the hospital is located in. So…
Mental health has been a large area of concern for years now and a hot topic in healthcare. The number of Americans being diagnosed with mental health disorders is rapidly increasing with no signs of slowing down. In fact, one in four adults suffer from a mental disorder and one in five adults have reported having an unmet need in mental health care in the United States. Not taking action and solving this crisis has…
The Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition encourages and promotes entrepreneurial activity and greater awareness of the resources available to entrepreneurs in Iowa. Winners are chosen based on the problem the business is working to solve, the market potential, and the business’s progress and next steps. We are proud to announce that OpenLoop was awarded second place in the competition. The grant money…
The Technology Association of Iowa’s Prometheus Awards, presented by LWBJ, unite Iowa innovators and leaders across the state in the fields of technology, business, education, and government to celebrate the year’s most momentous achievements. We are proud to announce that OpenLoop was named a finalist in two categories for the 2021 honors: Startup Technology Company of the Year and Software Development Company of…
Trust is one of the most important things in healthcare, especially between a patient and their provider. More often than not, patients are coming in vulnerable and nervous for their appointment. Factor in added technology considerations that come along with virtual visits, and that’s a whole other ballpark. Not having that face-to-face, physical interaction can put a barrier between a patient and the provider during…
Before the electronic health record (EHR) industry narrowed in on designing fully-integrated and centralized systems for sharing and transferring patient information securely, it was quite the challenging endeavor for hospitals and clinics. Even then, these systems didn’t become “all-in-one” like we’re used to seeing today until the 2000s with a very slow adoption rate. In 2010, only about 55% of hospitals and 29% of…
The pharmaceutical industry began dipping its toes into virtual service delivery nearly 20 years ago, although it was officially legalized in the US in 2007. Since then, increasing patient demand for rapid results and remedies, technology advancements, and telehealth usage sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic have all led to wider adoption of virtual pharmacies. Under the larger umbrella of telepharmacies falls terms…
With the rapid adoption of telehealth across hospitals, clinics and even employers, you’ve likely been offered the chance to seek medical attention virtually versus going into a healthcare facility. You’ve probably also had the choice between how you wanted to receive that virtual care - synchronously or asynchronously. The same goes for providers. Whether you’re a clinician delivering virtual care or an organization…
Anyone performing a service with access to patient records must remain in compliance with HIPAA at all times. Although it’s a term most commonly associated with the healthcare industry, it directly impacts many other types of organizations too. Most of you are probably familiar with the term HIPAA and its duty to protect your private information, but do you understand the rules and regulations that come along with it…
OpenLoop, a whitelabel telehealth company that powers virtual health care services across the country, has grown exponentially in the first half of 2021 to match the booming demand for telehealth visits ignited by the COVID-19 pandemic. To better accommodate that surge, OpenLoop opened a headquarters office in downtown Des Moines, Iowa in January of this year. Since then, the OpenLoop team has increased by a whopping…
Licensing is an essential piece in the healthcare delivery puzzle. Without it, medical providers can’t practice and healthcare facilities can’t operate. Basically, it’s what makes the healthcare world go round. Licensing is a hot topic with the boom in telehealth adoption, so it’s more important than ever to stay current on the conversation. In this blog post, we outlined all things licensing to get you caught up, so…
Like telehealth, remote patient monitoring is on the rise. This shouldn’t come as a surprise since remote patient monitoring falls under the larger umbrella of telehealth as a proven method of data capture and delivery. And as you know, the virtual care boom has only just begun. With the latest trends towards the value-based care treatment model, remote patient monitoring is sure to only continue gaining momentum…
The concept of value-based care was first introduced in 2006, but it recently gained traction throughout the pandemic. COVID-19 can be credited for changing healthcare operations throughout the world and also encouraging industry players to evaluate the way care is delivered to patients. Many healthcare experts feel that moving to a value-based care model might be the key to unlocking unprecedented quality of care…
Credentialing can be a long and grueling process, but a very critical one in the medical field. It is the first step in clinician hiring for healthcare providers operating hospitals or clinics, as well as, telehealth companies launching virtual services nationally. Any time you are bringing on a clinician to support your patients and represent your brand, thorough credentialing must be performed. It is such a…
The Growth of Telehealth It is no secret that telehealth adoption has increased significantly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Faced with an unprecedented global shutdown, the medical industry had to find a way to deliver quality care to patients with minimal face-to-face interaction across all reaches of the world. The answer? To deliver it virtually. Long before the pandemic, telehealth did exist but it…
DES MOINES, IA | April 14, 2021 - OpenLoop, a virtual health company based in Des Moines, Iowa, today announced their oversubscribed seed round financing of $3 million. The round was led by an angel group of physicians and was joined by Techstars, Next Level Ventures, Panoramic Ventures, and ISA Ventures, along with all existing investors, including Chairman Dr. Richard Ferguson, PhD. This financing enables OpenLoop…
What We've Learned in The Techstars Accelerator From Interviewing Twenty Telehealth Executive's in the Past Two Weeks 2020 has been a volatile year for telehealth executives. Some networks have experienced over 8000% growth in Telehealth use caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Projections in January are now remnants excel charts in a world changed. For the last two weeks we've interviewed telehealth executives at the…
A founder's dream. When Jon, Matt, and I founded OpenLoop we asked ourselves one question. Why are we starting a startup? I'd be lying if I said that we had all the right answers or even the right questions. Five years from now, when we look back to our early founding days and the ideas we shared, I'm excited to see the magnified results of our initial conversations. This article will cover the findings we've already…
Why is telehealth growing? The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm, impacting families, small businesses, and the healthcare industry. As doctors and hospitals try to find ways to help those who have been impacted by this illness, there has been pressure for healthcare systems and physician practices to adopt telehealth. Telehealth, also called telemedicine, is a non-contact tool that doctors can use to…
From the day we started Apollo, we set out with a lofty mission. Matt & I were two physicians with an idea to create a network that would change healthcare hiring. Connect providers directly to hospitals. These moonlighting positions were what gave us the name idea for Apollo Technologies after the NASA moon missions. After a great start to 2020, we found our name, though punny, did not reflect the core values of our…
Almost six months since the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 emerged in Wuhan, China, healthcare professionals worldwide are facing ongoing struggles to serve and treat the numerous individuals still streaming into hospitals and clinics. As so many are giving nearly every free hour of their lives to increase the wellness of others, their own personal physical and mental health is facing a crisis of its own: burnout…
Over the past several months, wearing masks while in public places or in groups of people has become increasingly recommended by government and health officials to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Some cities and states have taken the request for mask-wearing further, passing short-term legislation requiring masks to be worn in public places. However, as is common with many elements surrounding…
For physicians, there can often be a sense of dread mixed with anxiety when it comes to making difficult decisions during treatment or offering tragic news to individuals regarding a diagnosis. Nobody wants to be in the position to deliver hard news or decisions, yet healthcare professionals are faced with this reality multiple times a day. Making difficult decisions or diagnosis can lead a physician or healthcare…
As a healthcare professional, you are interacting with patients daily. From the moment they enter the door to their exit with a treatment plan in hand, your interaction with patients may be as significant as the guidance you give them. Have you taken the time to understand how empathetic listening – the ability to really listen and understand a patient’s concerns – and familiar rapport can benefit your patients and…
As a physician, your relationship with a physician’s assistant is one that must be built on trust and integrity. Ideally, this ongoing relationship would last many years in practice, allowing for inter-dependency and mutual respect to be developed across a variety of experiences – both vocational and personal. With a healthy and dynamic working relationship at work, physicians and PAs can better engage one another…
As Google and Apple team up to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, social media streams have lit up with claims regarding smartphone applications tracking your location for nefarious purposes. If you’ve been on social media channels in the past few weeks, you have likely seen users posting images of the latest “update” to their cell phone software that has allegedly added user-tracking software without their consent…
*Authors Note: This is a resource regarding an evolving situation. Any information included in this article may change at a later date as new information emerges. Please stay abreast of new and changing information regarding COVID-19 from the CDC and WHO. As the number of cases – and subsequent deaths – related to COVID-19 skyrocket around the United States, one treatment option has captured the public’s…
Industry leaders join forces to assist hospitals in need of medical personnel IOWA CITY, IA and DALLAS, TX – April 7, 2020 — Southwest Airlines is known for putting their “hearts” into action. A national leader in the airline industry, Southwest Airlines has pledged to provide free transportation to OpenLoopHealth.com healthcare workers deploying to critically understaffed hospitals in support of the fight against…
As America faces the challenges that have befallen strained healthcare systems around the world as a result of COVID-19, OpenLoop has chosen to refocus its platform to address a likely shortage of healthcare professionals across the country. As of today, we have launched a redesigned platform and waived all fees to partner healthcare facilities directly with local physicians, nurses, healthcare workers, and…
We need your help! Please spread the world to all hospitals, practices, urgent care centers in need of additional staff. If you know of any volunteers or medical professionals willing to help out, please enroll! Overview COVID-19 has rapidly changed life in the United States in ways that few thought possible just weeks ago. While we adapt to these changes, there may be even more changes to come including increased…
Supporting Hospitals Right now, Iowa is in the midst of a health crisis. With inevitable numbers of coronavirus climbing and Iowans in need of help, we at OpenLoop are trying to do everything in our part to help protect our communities. About us OpenLoop is a healthtech startup that was started in 2019 by a group of medical students to match healthcare providers with hospitals requiring temporary help with the vision…
For all it’s advances toward the health and well-being of modern Americans, healthcare still has a major issue: staffing shortages. From a lack of trained medical professionals willing to work in less-than-perfect locations to increasing strikes by healthcare workers, hospitals and medical facilities are continually facing shortages. To meet this growing challenge, many medical professionals have moved toward…
The OpenLoop team had the privilege of speaking in front of the Economic Development committee of the Iowa Legislature today. The focus of the session was to discuss the vibrant startups that are directly impacting Iowans coming out of the University of Iowa that have been made possible only through the state funding. The team introduced legislators to the what OpenLoop is trying to accomplish – help facilitate and…