Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Virtual Care, Real Connection: Making Telehealth Work for Every Generation
Host: Lucas Voss
Guest: Mike Kurland, Vice President, Clinical Quality and Integration at Medwan Solutions
Release Date: June 30, 2025

Introduction and Guest Background

In this insightful episode of the Becker's Healthcare Podcast, host Lucas Voss welcomes Mike Kurland, Vice President of Clinical Quality and Integration at Medwan Solutions. With nearly three decades of experience in healthcare, including 15 years specializing in health and digital health initiatives, Mike brings a wealth of knowledge in areas such as EMR implementation, telehealth integrations, and strategic vendor evaluations.

Mike Kurland ([00:26]):
"I work for Medwan Solutions, an advanced telehealth company. We have a kind of multi-sensor device and telehealth platform that fits just about any workflow that you're in."

Telehealth Usage Across Generations

The conversation opens with an examination of current telehealth usage trends, highlighting that patients aged 31 to 40 are the most active users. Mike attributes this to their technological fluency and appreciation for the convenience telehealth offers.

Mike Kurland ([01:58]):
"The age group that primarily understands and is fluid with technology... they really understand the concept of convenience."

However, Mike emphasizes that older adults are not being left behind. He underscores the importance of designing telehealth solutions that cater to the unique needs of various age segments within the senior population.

Principles and Guidelines for Aging Populations

Mike discusses the development of comprehensive principles and guidelines aimed at enhancing telehealth accessibility and effectiveness for older adults. Drawing from his experience at the West Health Institute, he outlines the collaborative efforts with leading geriatric care experts and institutions to address the adoption barriers in the older demographic.

Key Principles Introduced:

1. Person-Centered Care
   Placing the older adult at the heart of decision-making processes, ensuring that care models and workflows are tailored to their specific needs.

   Mike Kurland ([02:12]):
   "The older adult being served is really at the center of decision making. That is not new, but it really is a cultural mind shift for organizations."

2. Equitable and Accessible Care
   Guaranteeing high-quality care irrespective of age, ability, socioeconomic status, or health literacy, ensuring that telehealth services are as robust as in-person care.

3. Integrated and Coordinated Care
   Fostering seamless information sharing and care coordination across various healthcare systems to manage the complex needs of older adults effectively.

Mike highlights the variability within the older adult population, noting the distinct differences between those aged 65-75, 75-80, and 80+, each with varying levels of technological comfort and care requirements.

Mike Kurland ([06:33]):
"The older adults of today are very, very different than the older adults of yesterday. They themselves have done studies... and are willing to use new technologies like telehealth for their convenience."

Turning Recommendations into Action

Transforming these principles into actionable strategies involves several key steps:

• Technological Adaptations
  Implementing features that accommodate vision and hearing impairments, as well as dexterity issues, such as larger icons and fonts.

• User Testing with Older Adults
  Ensuring platforms are user-friendly by involving older adults and their caregivers in the testing phase before deployment.

• Hybrid Care Delivery Models
  Combining in-person and virtual visits to provide flexible care solutions that cater to both provider and patient preferences.

• Proactive Technology Checks
  Conducting pre-visit technology assessments to mitigate technical issues and ensure a smooth telehealth experience.

Mike Kurland ([06:53]):
"Organizations that are ahead of the curve... have the ability for tech checks. They really set the tone for a hybrid care delivery model."

Importance of Communication in Virtual Visits

Effective communication between patients and providers is crucial to set realistic expectations about virtual care. Mike emphasizes the need for clear dialogue regarding what telehealth can and cannot achieve, ensuring both parties are aligned.

Mike Kurland ([10:45]):
"Setting the expectations has to start with the providers and the clinicians and even the support staff before the visit."

He shares experiences from leading telehealth programs where setting proper expectations led to increased provider buy-in and smoother transitions to virtual care.

Change Management and Provider Buy-In

A significant barrier to telehealth adoption is resistance from providers who are accustomed to traditional in-person care methods. Mike stresses the importance of change management strategies to secure provider support.

Mike Kurland ([15:11]):
"If the mindset isn't there with the key providers... you're not going to be able to get to the patient."

He advocates for leadership-driven cultural shifts within organizations, highlighting the impending healthcare workforce shortages and the necessity of embracing telehealth as an essential component of future care models.

Future of Telehealth and Advice to Healthcare Leaders

Looking ahead, Mike envisions telehealth as a pivotal element in bridging generational and geographical gaps in healthcare delivery. He advises healthcare leaders to proactively integrate telehealth into their practices to stay competitive and meet evolving patient needs.

Mike Kurland ([15:47]):
"The future of care is knocking and we just have to be willing to open the door. These new workflows and care delivery models, they are inevitable."

He warns against complacency, emphasizing that organizations must adapt to technological advancements to avoid being left behind by more forward-thinking competitors.

Conclusion

In this episode, Mike Kurland provides a comprehensive exploration of how telehealth can be optimized to serve every generation, with a particular focus on older adults. Through strategic principles, actionable guidelines, and effective change management, healthcare organizations can enhance telehealth adoption and ensure equitable, person-centered care for all patients.

Mike Kurland ([17:13]):
"The future of care is knocking and we just have to be willing to open the door."

This detailed discussion underscores the transformative potential of telehealth and the critical steps necessary to realize its benefits across diverse patient populations.