How healthcare professionals can meet digital health complexity with confidence

With the Covid-19 pandemic came a shift toward digital health. Whether it’s wearable devices, mobile health, telehealth, telemedicine, or health information technology, today’s health reality is digital. And the change is here to stay:

Virtual care use has increased 38 times from before the pandemic*.

Projections show the global telemedicine market will reach $590bn by 2023**.

Driving the demand for digital health

Beyond the pandemic, digital health offers flexibility at a time when medical staff turnover is higher than ever. It can help address staffing shortages while improving access to care for those in remote areas or with chronic diseases.

But with the added convenience come complications that medical professionals should watch and plan for:

1. Accuracy. Without clear protocols for which conditions can be handled virtually and which require in-person visits, the number of inaccurate diagnoses could rise.

2. Financial viability. If fewer patients visit in person or more patients decline elective surgeries, it could squeeze the finances of healthcare organisations.

3. Cyber risk. Introducing more technology can mean more data breaches or ransomware attacks that can compromise information protected by HIPAA, breach other regulations, and even shut down facilities.

4. Credentialing. Expanding telemedicine services geographically will require confirmation of proper medical credentials for new staff.

5. Regulations and licences. The federal pandemic waivers and exemptions expanding the use of digital health services are expiring. Providers should know how care delivery is expected to change due to this and to new state laws.

“Introducing more technology can mean more data breaches or ransomware attacks that can compromise information protected by HIPAA, breach other regulations, and even shut down facilities”

Ironshore is your partner for digital health professional liability

At Ironshore, our healthcare team understands the unique exposures that professionals who rely on digital care services and technologies face.

Designed for healthcare and consultation delivered electronically and via video, as well as for virtual physical therapy, counselling, staffing and home healthcare, our solution offers professional liability, general liability and technology errors and omissions coverage and can also include cyber liability and products liability for wearable devices.

“With digital health a permanent and growing reality in healthcare, talk to us about unlocking your potential to grow with your clients, with the help of our creativity and expertise”

Wholesale brokers can count on Ironshore as a partner who can work with you to create flexible, tailored solutions that help protect healthcare organisations from legal, financial and reputational risks.

With digital health a permanent and growing reality in healthcare, talk to us about unlocking your potential to grow with your clients, with the help of our creativity and expertise.

Lean more about Ironshore’s full range of healthcare solutions for our wholesale partners here.

Sources:

* McKinsey & Co., Telehealth: A quarter-trillion-dollar post-Covid-19 reality?, Telehealth: A post-COVID-19 reality? | McKinsey

** Market.us, Global Telemedicine Market Report, https://market.us/report/telemedicine-market/, 2/23

Ironshore, a Liberty Mutual Company, provides broker-sourced specialty property and casualty insurance coverages for varying risks located throughout the world.

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