How To Implement A Virtual Wellness Program In 6 Steps (1)
From surveys to vendors, what you need to know for a successful program launch
Just as April showers bring May flowers, May marks the midpoint of Q2—when the initiatives planted in Q1 start to take root and bloom. The same goes for this month’s digital health news and trends! So grab your favorite morning brew and catch up on what you may have missed (see what we did there?) last month.
Explore what new digital therapeutic tool received FDA clearance, the recently proposed CONNECT Act, AI policies, along with novel innovations that are expected to change the healthcare landscape.
Technology, News and Insights
How Telecardiology Helps the Supply-Demand Mismatch and Enhances Care
Over 45% of counties in the United States don’t have a cardiologist in the area, affecting more than 20 million residents. In addition to that, several of those residents live in locations where the risk of heart disease is greater due to varying risk factors. With the cardiologist shortage expected to worsen and the population becoming sicker, telecardiology is a potential solution to the supply/demand mismatch.
The article explains the multiple clinical trials that demonstrate how telecardiology services can aid in controlling cholesterol and blood pressure, reduce hospitalizations and mortality rates, and even decrease readmissions. It’s expected to broaden care delivery, especially with many healthcare services shifting into the home.
Read the full Healthcare IT News article here >>
Click Therapeutics Granted FDA Market Authorization for Digital Migraine Drug
The digital therapeutic company, Click Therapeutics, recently received FDA marketing authorization for its product, CT-132. It’s a digital therapeutic for preventing episodic migraines, a condition that impacts almost 40 million U.S. adults. The marketing authorization for CT-132 is supported by data from a controlled trial that demonstrated its ability to reduce the number of monthly migraine days in patients taking standard-of-care prescription migraine medications.
The article describes the evidence-based application as “groundbreaking,” as it provides patients with a new way to alleviate the burden caused by migraines.
Read the full MobiHealthNews article here >>
Policy and Regulatory
60 US Senators Support Telehealth Extension
A new bill, the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act, was recently introduced by 60 U.S. senators. This proposed legislation aims to permanently expand telehealth coverage for Medicare beneficiaries.
It would eliminate all geographic restrictions on telehealth, allowing rural health clinics and health centers to offer telehealth services. It would also withdraw the in-person visit requirements for virtual mental health services. Currently, these flexibilities are scheduled to expire on September 20, 2025, and could affect 20% of the U.S. population residing in medically underserved areas.
Read the full Becker’s Hospital Review here >>
HHS Updates Regulatory Guides for the Safe Use of EHRs
The Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) recently released the 2025 SAFER Guides. The documents offer insight into how healthcare organizations can assess and enhance the safety of electronic health records (EHRs). The safety guides were developed by several clinicians and informaticians, covering topics such as software testing procedures, the use of artificial intelligence in clinical care, and other relevant areas.
Read the full Healthcare IT News article here >>
White House Releases Guidance on Federal AI Use and Procurement
Two memos were released by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) aimed at the leaders of all executive branch departments and agencies developing policies on federal AI use and the purchase of AI in government.
The first memo instructs agencies to expedite the use of AI and leverage existing investments by reusing models, code, and data. The other White House memo highlights three key themes when purchasing AI in the government, which are shared in the article. Both memos encourage the purchase and use of American-made AI products and services.
Read the full MobiHealthNews article here >>
Industry Conversations
AI Chatbots Boost Patient Engagement and Reduce Clinician Workload, Study Shows
A peer-reviewed study explored how AI chatbots can address common healthcare system challenges relating to accessibility, communication, and efficiency. Researchers remarked how chatbots have already conducted numerous functions, from scheduling and therapeutic support to triage and symptom analysis. Their ability to manage large patient volumes at scale without adding to staff burden and increase patient adherence can drive better outcomes. This is crucial for special populations who are less likely to stick to their care plans, such as those with chronic diseases.
Read the full Healthcare IT News article here >>
AI Budgets Outpacing IT Spend: Survey
According to a survey conducted by Amazon Web Services and Bain & Co., generative AI is a top priority. Over 400 executives from provider organizations, insurers, and pharmaceutical companies completed the poll to determine their prioritized use cases, where companies stood on the generative AI maturity curve, and more.
They revealed four main findings, with two of them being:
60% of respondents said AI budgets are outpacing IT budgets.
Only 30% of AI pilot programs transition into production, likely due to barriers such as uncertainty over security, data readiness, integration costs, and limited in-house expertise.
Read the full Beckers Health IT article here >>
Growth, Funding and Innovation
Zoom Launches Agentic AI-powered Mobile Comms for Frontline Staff
Popular American communications technology company Zoom has introduced a new tool, Zoom Workplace for Frontline. It harnesses agentic AI to enhance work management and on-shift communications. Their goal is to improve collaboration and productivity with its push-to-talk functionality, real-time activity feed, and auto-generated on-shift chat groups. Things like shift handoffs can be time-intensive and lead to miscommunications, so this tool may help alleviate these issues.
Read the full Healthcare IT article here >>
Remote Patient Monitoring Drives $12M ROI at Michigan Medicine
A study including 1700 patients with COVID-19, uncontrolled hypertension, or congestive heart failure assessed the impact of RPM. The patient's vitals were monitored at home by devices and transmitted to the medical team at Michigan Medicine. Researchers evaluated the six-month outcomes and noted that hospitalizations decreased by 59%, resulting in a $12 million return on investment.
Read the full Becker’s Hospital Review article here >>
OpenLoop Resources & News
The Connection Between GLP-1s, Menopause and Metabolism
GLP-1s have gained much attention for their role in diabetes management and weight loss, but could they aid with metabolic changes associated with menopause as well? While researchers aren’t completely certain yet, evidence points to GLP-1's potential in menopause treatment. This article explores how menopause impacts women’s metabolic health, largely due to increased fat mass, and how GLP-1 medications may help reduce some of the health risks menopausal women often face.
Read the full OpenLoop blog here >>
How To Implement A Virtual Wellness Program In 6 Steps
Those interested in launching a virtual wellness program but uncertain about how to do so can learn 6 crucial steps to make it happen. These remote programs have the potential to decrease health insurance claims costs by improving employee health, among other benefits. Gain insight into what’s required to turn your idea into a successful workplace initiative.
Read the full OpenLoop blog here >>