Experts point out that one of the most significant benefits of virtual hospital care is that it saves space in hospital facilities, making more beds available for patients seeking in-person care. Rather than going to the emergency room for non-emergency care, patients admitted to virtual hospitals can be digitally diagnosed, treated through at-home visits, and monitored daily, all from the comfort of their own home.
In their research article, McKinsey & Company illustrated an example of a woman in her mid-80s who was experiencing leg inflammation and difficulty getting around. She was approved for virtual hospital care after uploading pictures of her leg and relevant health information to the virtual hospital system. A doctor diagnosed the condition, developed a treatment plan, and support staff helped coordinate regular in-home visits for administering medications, drawing blood, physical therapy, imaging scans, and setting up medical equipment, which included virtual monitoring and communication devices.
As we enter 2024, the expansion of IoT medical devices in virtual hospital care also seems to be well underway — a technological trend that Forbes has deemed “telemedicine 2.0.”