Recent Digital Health Trends, Insight and News - February 2025

With a new year comes new possibilities and digital health trends. While you’ve been getting back into the swing of things at work and reflecting on everything learned in 2024, we’ve been compiling top news that took place during the first month of the year. 

In this January telehealth recap, we update you on the DEA’s plans for telehealth-prescribed medications, healthcare AI and more. 

Technology, News and Insights

Remote Patient Monitoring Will Boost CHF and GLP-1 Care in 2025

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is expected to provide more than just vital sign checking in 2025. This technology will integrate real-time physiological data with AI-driven pattern recognition to detect health declines in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) before severe symptoms arise. An industry leader also predicts that RPM tools will be used to track medication adherence, side effects and more in those using GLP-1 medications. 

Read the full Healthcare IT News article here >> 

AI Optics Receives FDA 510(k) for Retinal Screening Camera

The AI-enabled medical device company, AI Optics, created a handheld retinal imaging system called the Sentinel Camera. This tool takes top-quality images of the human eye and integrates with EHRs to make data sharing, billing and care coordination straightforward. The Sentinel Camera was designed for general healthcare practitioners so that patients' needs could be met without them visiting an eye specialist's office. The system should improve diagnostic efficiency and screening workflows when combined with the brand's upcoming AI capabilities. 

Read the full Mobi Health News article here >> 

Policy and Regulatory

DEA Announces Three New Telemedicine Rules that Continue to Open Access to Telehealth Treatment while Protecting Patients

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has introduced new rules to make some of the temporary telemedicine flexibilities granted during the COVID-19 pandemic permanent. One rule allows patients with opioid-use disorder to receive a 6-month supply of buprenorphine via telephone consultation with a provider. Yet, future prescriptions would require an in-person appointment. 

Another proposed rule involves incorporating a telehealth controlled substance registry. Under this, clinicians would have to receive special registration to prescribe medications through telemedicine visits. The press release then explains the other rule relating to Veteran Affairs practitioners. 

Read the DEA press release here >> 

HHS Lays Out Strategic Plan for Healthcare AI

With more executives considering implementing AI in their organizations, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has prepared a strategic plan to oversee its use. Some of its goals include ensuring its safe deployment, providing guidance on privacy and security rules, and increasing cybersecurity personnel in the healthcare sector. 

The HHS stated that its objective is to create a safe, coordinated public-private approach to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare services. However, the focus of AI policy could change under the Trump administration. 

Read the Healthcare Dive article here >> 

Industry Conversations

Not Enough Hospitals Are Testing Their Predictive AI Models for Accuracy, Bias, Study Finds

A study published in Health Affairs reviewed data from the 2023 American Hospital Association Annual Survey Information Technology Supplement. Researchers sought to understand how predictive analytics tools were utilized and assessed for accuracy and bias in hospitals. Their investigation discovered that several U.S. hospitals weren’t internally evaluating these tools for accuracy. They also noted that even fewer (44%) assessed them for potential biases. 

This could result in hospitals not catering to the actual needs of their patient population, which threatens equitable treatment and patient safety. 

Read the Fierce Healthcare article here >> 

The Most Critical Healthcare IT Technologies: Report

Information technology decision-makers completed a survey regarding what tools they expect will be most critical to healthcare IT operations in the future. The survey participants came from various sectors, including biomedical, pharmaceutical, healthcare, government and more. The results showed that 53% believed data security and compliance platforms would be the most critical. Hybrid cloud and multi-environment adoption followed, as did edge computing for distributed apps.

Read the full Beckers Hospital Review report here >>

Growth, Funding and Innovation

Abridge Expands AI-Powered Medical Documentation to Emergency Departments

The generative AI company Abridge recently launched an AI-powered document tool intended for emergency departments (EDs). While already in use at some major health systems, like Johns Hopkins Medicine, a recent update was made so it integrates with Epic’s EHR system. 

This AI development is geared to help streamline documentation, having an automatic voice recognition feature that can create transcripts and well-structured clinical documentation. Ultimately, it allows clinicians to focus more on patient care and outcomes.

Read the full Digital Health News article here >> 

Teladoc Joins Amazon’s Digital Health Benefits Program

Teladoc Health is collaborating with Amazon to expand the reach of its chronic condition programs. This move allows Amazon customers eligible for Teladoc Health’s programs to find and enroll directly through Amazon’s Health Benefits Connector. Today, more than half of U.S. adults have a chronic condition, and enrollment is one of the greatest difficulties they experience. The benefits connector will make this more seamless by matching users to digital health programs based on the benefits covered under their health plan.

Read the full Healthcare Dive article here >> 

OpenLoop Resources & News 

How To Get LegitScript Certified & Why It's Important

If you operate a virtual care program and want the ability to advertise on known platforms, make online transactions, and gain trust among buyers, it’s crucial to be LegitScript Certified. Digital health care is becoming the norm, making patients vulnerable to sellers conducting illicit activity. Becoming LegitScript Certified showcases to others that your brand is credible, but the process is rigorous. In our article, we explain how to achieve certification, like we’ve been able to. 

Read the full OpenLoop blog here >> 

How Telehealth Improves Chronic Care Management & Outcomes

Chronic diseases carry a massive burden, both fiscally and physically. Therefore, healthcare leaders are seeking ways to lessen its effects in hopes of improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. In this article, you’ll learn four ways telehealth can help organizations enhance chronic disease management without overwhelming their providers or adding more staff.

Read the full OpenLoop blog here >> 

The ROI Behind Virtual Wellness Programs

Employers are looking to traditional wellness programs to help stave off rising health insurance premium costs, but sometimes, those programs don’t yield the results companies expect. That’s usually because the traditional approach presents barriers, like time and convenience. However, virtual wellness programs can meet employees where they are, likely increasing participation rates, improving health results, decreasing healthcare costs, and more. 

Read the full OpenLoop blog here >>