The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a dramatic transformation in healthcare delivery. As the world adapted to quarantining, the medical field found ways to meet patients where they were—at home. Digital health tools took center stage, with physicians and patients quickly adapting. In the five years since, we’ve seen an evolution of digital health tools, their impact, and opportunities for enhancing specialty care.
The Rise in Digital Health
Digital health was gaining traction prior to the pandemic, but the abrupt shift to virtual care revealed healthcare’s lag in adopting simple solutions. Patients and physicians embraced these tools out of necessity, driving a surge in adoption. As a result, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of healthcare providers integrating digital health tools into their practices, from 25% in 2019 to 60% in 2023.
In my practice, I’ve utilized tools such as asynchronous text messaging to extend care beyond the clinical setting, providing an effective way to communicate with patients and improve outcomes and patient satisfaction.
Why Digital Health Tools Are Needed
Healthcare is under pressure to become more effective and efficient, yet we have only scratched the surface of technology’s ability to achieve these goals. By integrating technology into care delivery, we can make patient-centered, high-value care a reality.
Orthopedic surgery, for example, is shifting dramatically from inpatient settings to ambulatory surgical centers with same-day discharges. This raises some challenges in providing post-operative education and replicating in-hospital care at home. Successful surgeons leverage digital health tools, such as remote patient monitoring, to address this by increasing patient touchpoints and surfacing critical data for timely interventions—a crucial component of high-value care. As a physician, I’m excited about how this data can deliver a more comprehensive view of a patient’s health journey. As we (slowly) move towards a healthcare future that emphasizes patient-reported outcomes, it’s critical that we thoughtfully implement tools that can support this transition.
While digital health solutions offer powerful tools for engaging patients and enhancing care, they also pose challenges for providers. Integrating new data streams into workflows can feel overwhelming, highlighting the need for tools that deliver only the most relevant information seamlessly. The best technology fades into the background like digital Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS), which revolutionized medicine to the point that we no longer remember the days of hanging films on lightboxes. For digital health to succeed, it must emulate this seamless integration while enabling greater communication, personalized care, and improved patient outcomes.
The Future of Digital Health in Musculoskeletal Care
Major trends in musculoskeletal (MSK) digital health include the rise of remote physiologic monitoring, communication platforms for post-surgical care, and convenient, cost-effective virtual physical therapy. These technologies are critical for increasing patient touchpoints in the home – a cornerstone of modern MSK care.
Adopting digital health in fee-for-service environments can be challenging, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is increasingly supportive, providing billing codes for Remote Patient Monitoring and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring devices. As we shift from fee-for-service to a future of sustainable value-based care, the return on investment for these solutions becomes even greater. These tools enhance patient engagement, offer low-cost therapy and messaging solutions, and surface clinical data that prevent complications—key principles in value-based care. While tools like asynchronous texting might not always deliver an immediate return on investment (ROI) in fee-for-service models, they significantly improve patient satisfaction. With CMS mandating patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMS) as a key component of reimbursement, healthcare providers should proactively embrace these tools.
Benefits of Digital Physical Therapy
As a surgeon, I know how critical it is for my patients to be strong, mobile, and well-informed before surgery. Optimized patients have better outcomes, fewer complications, and higher satisfaction. Studies confirm this, showing that engaged, healthy patients have better results.
Digital Physical Therapy (PT) offers a valuable option for patients who might struggle with access to in-person clinics, providing accessible, convenient care with outcomes comparable to traditional PT. It also compliments in-person care, offering an engaging experience instead of a static sheet of exercise instructions. As post-operative protocols evolve, digital PT serves as an excellent solution for patients seeking guided exercises tailored to their recovery.
Challenges for Digital Physical Therapy
Despite these benefits, digital PT faces challenges:
- Technology Literacy: Ensuring that patients and providers are equipped to use digital tools effectively.
- Equity in Access: Bridging gaps for those without reliable internet or smart devices.
- Hybrid Integration: Refining models to seamlessly combine virtual and in-person care.
- Care Direction: Capturing patients early and directing those needing surgery to appropriate care.
TailorCare’s acquisition of RecoveryOne addresses these challenges, combining MSK care navigation with a proven digital PT platform. This partnership ensures that patients receive evidence-based, personalized care, whether in-person or digital. With 95% of U.S. adults having internet access, RecoveryOne’s mobile app and browser-based platform make PT, exercise, and health coaching more accessible than ever. Together, TailorCare and RecoveryOne represent a comprehensive approach to MSK care, offering the right care at the right time for every patient.
The rising demand for MSK services and their significant cost highlight the need for a sustainable, cost-effective, evidence-based approach to care. While we’ve struggled to fully leverage technology or realize the potential of value-based care, the tools to enable high-touch, tech-driven, high-value care are now within reach. TailorCare’s acquisition of RecoveryOne marks a significant step—if not a leap— forward, making next-generation MSK care more attainable than ever.
By Dr. Ben Schwartz, TailorCare Clinical Advisory Board Member
Benjamin Schwartz, MD, MBA is an orthopedic surgeon with over 15 years of clinical experience and a recognized thought leader in healthcare innovation. As a member of TailorCare’s Clinical Advisory Board and the Editor-in-Chief of The Surgeon’s Record, he explores the intersection of technology, care delivery, and the doctor-patient relationship.
Dr. Schwartz is passionate about advancing value-based care, particularly in musculoskeletal health, and serves as a strategic advisor to healthcare startups aiming to revolutionize patient outcomes.