Customer relationship management giant Salesforce has introduced a telehealth system for its Salesforce Health Cloud service. The new technology enables two-way video chat designed to give patients the ability to connect face-to-face with their care teams from any Apple iOS or Android mobile device.

Caregivers currently use Health Cloud to get a view of their patients and help manage care holistically, Salesforce said. Now, with the addition of two-way video chat, clinicians can deliver more timely, convenient and contextual care with the aim of increasing overall patient satisfaction, the vendor said.

Released earlier this year, Health Cloud is a patient relationship management system designed to provide a comprehensive view of patients and increase patient engagement.

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The worldwide telehealth market is forecast to be worth $6.5 billion by 2020 with an estimated compound annual growth rate of 24.2 percent from a value of $2.2 billion in 2015 as the healthcare industry undergoes a fundamental transformation to value-based business from volume-based business, according to the latest telemedicine data from industry research firm Market Reports Hub.

According to Salesforce’s recent “2016 Connected Patient Report,” 62 percent of U.S. respondents with health insurance and a primary care provider would be open to virtual care such as video conference calls for non-urgent matters.

“Consumers today expect to connect with their healthcare providers in the same way they FaceTime with family members,” said Joshua Newman, MD, general manager of healthcare and life sciences at Salesforce. “Providers who can provide the best platform for engagement – on the devices patients use day to day – will find the most success in this highly connected world.”

Twitter: @SiwickiHealthIT
Email the writer: bill.siwicki@himssmedia.com

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