Ideas for marketing telehealth in the COVID-19 crisis

Telehealth has surged as U.S. health care systems prepare for and manage the viral surge.

Successful technologies have their big adoption moment—the event that pushes them past the “tipping point” to become a part of everyday life. The COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding reduced barriers to virtual care are pushing telehealth further into the mainstream as many health care providers are moving quickly to implement or expand telehealth capabilities.

As of mid-March, almost 80% of hospitals in the U.S. offered some sort of telehealth service, according to The Wall Street Journal. Yet, until now, consumer demand has lagged. Currently, health systems and direct-to-consumer telemedicine apps are reporting huge spikes in use of these services, as both consumers and providers are embracing their utility.

The opportunity for health care marketers is clear: Market telehealth as a central part of your COVID-19 plan — and an essential, accessible service to patients and communities.

These recommendations can help healthcare marketers effectively support their telehealth initiatives, across all marketing channels.