How WELL Health Created a Platform to Tackle Healthcare’s Biggest Challenge

Among the innumerable challenges facing the healthcare industry in the United States today, interoperability is one of the most pressing. With thousands of unique providers and health networks, it is now more difficult than ever for practitioners to streamline health operations, and keeping track of health records can be a logistical nightmare. Even when these records are digitized, they may not exist in a format that is easily accessible to the patient or transferable to new clinicians. This fragmentation is not only a barrier but a deadly threat as the digital health industry continues its rapid expansion. 

Although digitization has its difficulties, it’s an answer to another one of healthcare’s largest issues: the lack of accessible and convenient medical care. Many patients have found it increasingly difficult to go to brick-and-mortar medical clinics and doctors’ offices, especially in recent years. During the pandemic, in-person care fell in popularity due to the additional risk of contagion. As a result, telehealth usage more than doubled year over year. Even before COVID, the telehealth industry was expanding rapidly, with patients enjoying the convenience of virtual appointment options for minor symptoms. 

It was in this shift that Canadian healthcare leader, WELL Health Technologies, emerged as a true pioneer, tackling both accessibility and interoperability through their innovative suite of digital services. Last year, WELL became the first telehealth company in Canada to achieve 

Apple iPhone compatibility, a landmark milestone due to Apple’s dominant role in the North American smartphone market. With roughly 90 percent of Americans having access to a smartphone and 60 percent of those phones running on Apple operating systems, it is crucial for public health that those devices can smoothly access telehealth services.

Empowering patients to use their iPhones for telehealth consultations will be a tremendous advantage for healthcare access, thanks not only to the added convenience but also the increased interoperability. Patients are now able to carry their complete medical records and treatment history right on their smartphones. 

WELL is poised to increase access to telehealth for travelers as well, with more people choosing to leave laptops at home and rely on iPads and smartphones when traveling. Demand for telehealth when traveling is set to increase this year as both personal and professional travel return stronger than ever. With telehealth on the rise in all fifty U.S. 

states, patients can now find medical providers to give them professional consultations while on business trips and vacations. This innovation is not only beneficial for frequent travelers but for all patients as telehealth kicks off a tremendous new era in which patients can seek specialized physicians nationwide rather than just within their state of residence. Not only will patients have increased access to health services but these services will be of higher quality across the board with thousands of unique services at their fingertips.