Virtual Primary Care 101: Usage, Benefits and More

Primary care is a cornerstone of the U.S. healthcare system, offering preventive care services, care coordination support, and long-term health management. As with other aspects of healthcare delivery, primary care has gone virtual, spurred by the in-person care constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic.Following the end of the public health emergency, virtual primary care has remained a popular option, allowing Americans expanded critical access to primary care. Thus, it is important for healthcare stakeholders to gain a comprehensive understanding of virtual primary care, including its benefits and barriers, trends in its adoption and patient perspectives.In its simplest terms, virtual primary care refers to conducting primary care appointments and related services through virtual care modalities, such as telehealth, remote patient monitoring and other digital health tools.