Telehealth to AI: How Consultants Drive Healthcare Growth

Digital health is transforming care delivery from telemedicine to AI-driven diagnostics. Consultants are at the forefront of this shift, helping hospitals and startups implement telehealth strategy and cutting-edge AI in healthcare solutions. Today, nearly 87% of U.S. hospitals offer telehealth – up from just 73% in 2018 – making virtual care a routine way for patients to access services. Likewise, AI adoption is surging: by 2024, two-thirds of physicians reported using AI tools, a dramatic jump from 38% in 2023. Strategic guidance from healthcare consulting and digital health consulting experts is critical to translate these technologies into operational gains, better patient experiences, and cost savings.

Telehealth Adoption and Strategy

Telehealth consultations are now commonplace. In one recent survey, 12.6% of Medicare beneficiaries received a telehealth service in late 2023. Telehealth has evolved from a niche offering into standard practice. An American Hospital Association report finds telehealth adoption “grown significantly over the past five years,” with 86.9% of hospitals offering virtual care by 2022. While telemedicine use spiked during COVID-19 and later declined, overall utilization remains well above pre-pandemic levels. For example, Epic’s analysis of 35 million records showed no need for in-person follow-ups in the vast majority of telehealth visits, confirming telehealth’s effectiveness. Patients love the convenience – in 2020, 92% of telehealth users got care from home – and telehealth helps extend scarce specialist resources.

Crafting an effective telehealth strategy requires balancing technology, workflows and patient needs. Key factors include facility type, patient demographics, services offered and IT readiness. For example, a telemedicine profile may consider “overall size and geography, patient mix, range of services, reimbursement models, [and] IT system maturity”【25†】. Consultants help hospitals align these factors with business goals: setting up virtual visit platforms, remote monitoring programs, or specialty tele-consults that integrate seamlessly into existing systems. They ensure regulatory compliance (e.g. HIPAA, licensure rules) and train staff for smooth adoption.

Case in Point

A multi-hospital health system implemented multidisciplinary telehealth tools – video collaboration and wireless stethoscopes – connecting rural hospitals to specialists. Within two months, the initiative halved ICU readmission rates and achieved a 100% return on investment, while expanding access for underserved patients. Similarly, deploying “telehealth medication dispensers” for seniors led to a 98% medication adherence rate and fewer doctor visits and hospital stays compared to traditional methods. In each case, consultants guided the process from pilot to scale, measuring outcomes and iterating. These examples show how a well-planned telehealth strategy – developed and managed by digital health consulting professionals – can improve care efficiency and patient satisfaction while cutting costs.

AI in Healthcare: Adoption and Impact

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing clinical care and operations. Recent surveys show AI in healthcare is exploding: the global market grew 233% from $6.7 billion in 2020 to $22.4 billion in 2023, and it’s projected to reach ~$102 billion in annual U.S. revenue by 2030. In practice, nearly 90% of health systems report using AI tools in medical imaging and radiology, the most mature clinical use case. For example, AI algorithms now flag critical conditions in radiographs and scans with 90–95% accuracy, enabling faster diagnoses. One FDA analysis shows hundreds of approved AI-powered diagnostic devices in use, mostly in radiology and cardiology.

Medical professionals increasingly use AI-powered tools. In one study, 90% of surveyed organizations had deployed AI in imaging, and by 2024, two-thirds of doctors reported using AI for tasks like charting, coding and diagnostic support. Beyond imaging, AI assists in predictive analytics (forecasting patient volumes or identifying high-risk patients), natural language processing (extracting insights from clinical notes), and automation (scheduling, billing, etc.). Consultants help organizations pick the right AI use cases. They balance clinical benefit, data quality and regulatory constraints. For example, deploying an AI-based sepsis risk model can reduce ICU transfers, but only if integrated into clinician workflows with robust oversight.

Healthcare leaders recognize the potential: 94% of health organizations view AI as core to their strategy. And the results speak for themselves. One study of predictive analytics found a 50% drop in readmissions for hospitals using AI models, and up to 30% fewer unnecessary tests. When implemented thoughtfully, AI in healthcare improves accuracy and frees up providers’ time (the AMA survey noted many clinicians now use AI to write notes and discharge instructions). Consultants ensure these tools are safe and effective: they validate data pipelines, set up feedback loops for algorithm performance, and train clinical staff on new AI systems.

The Consultant’s Role: Efficiency, Experience, Innovation

Across telehealth and AI projects, consultants drive key themes that matter to executives: operational efficiency, patient experience, cost savings, and clinical innovation. By optimizing processes, consultants enable leaner operations. For instance, in the Teladoc Health case, PwC consolidated multiple ERPs and CRMs across 20 countries into a single global platform. The result: a 95% reduction in invoice processing time (from hours to minutes) and 35% annual run-rate savings by simplifying systems architecture. This kind of cost-saving, operational efficiency directly improves the bottom line.

Enhancing patient experience is another focus. Telehealth and AI can make care more convenient and personalized. Consultants help design user-friendly telehealth portals and integrate AI-driven decision support so that providers can spend more time with patients. In the Saudi hospital example, introducing real-time data analytics and a patient portal reduced administrative burden and improved patient satisfaction – contributing to 15% revenue growth. This shows how digital transformation, when guided by consultants, boosts both quality of care and financial performance.

On the clinical innovation front, consultants bridge tech and medicine. They partner with hospitals and startups alike to pilot new AI-driven diagnostics. For example, a digital health consulting team might oversee the deployment of an autonomous AI system for diabetic retinopathy screening, coordinating IT integration and clinical validation. By embedding AI tools into care pathways, consultants help providers catch diseases earlier and optimize treatment plans.

In sum, healthcare consulting and digital health consulting firms bring together strategy, technology and clinical insight. They assess needs, select vendors, manage change, and measure ROI. Their methodology often includes readiness assessments, pilot projects, and governance frameworks to ensure AI and telehealth solutions meet regulatory and patient safety standards. In doing so, they turn cutting-edge technology into measurable growth.

Case Study: Digital Transformation of a Hospital

A leading tertiary hospital faced fragmented systems and paper-based processes that hampered efficiency. Working with digital transformation consultants, the hospital executed a phased overhaul: upgrading infrastructure, implementing a new EHR, digitizing workflows, and adding telehealth services. The result was dramatic. Administrative workload fell by 30%, while patient care and satisfaction improved. Importantly, revenue grew 15% as the hospital became a technology-enabled leader in its market. This case demonstrates how a comprehensive digital health consulting engagement – combining telehealth rollout, analytics and process redesign – drives concrete performance gains.

Case Study: Scaling Virtual Care at Teladoc

Teladoc Health, a global telemedicine provider, was expanding rapidly through acquisitions. Complex IT systems and disconnected operations were a barrier to growth. Teladoc partnered with PwC’s healthcare consulting team to implement “Project Fusion”: consolidating legacy systems and creating a unified global ERP and CRM. Post-transformation, Teladoc saw significant efficiency improvements. Invoice processing time plunged over 95%, and the company cut its IT maintenance costs by roughly 35% of its annual run rate. This made Teladoc’s business more agile and ready for scale. By leveraging consulting expertise in both healthcare and IT, Teladoc could focus on innovating in virtual care instead of struggling with back-office complexity.

Key Takeaways

• Telehealth is here to stay: Most hospitals offer telemedicine, and patient demand remains high. An effective telehealth strategy leads to better access and satisfaction.

• AI adoption is accelerating: Two-thirds of physicians now use AI tools, especially in imaging and documentation, showing that AI in healthcare is moving from pilot to practice.

• Consultants add value: Healthcare and digital health consultants turn technology into results – improving efficiency, cutting costs, and enhancing care. Case studies show double-digit improvements in outcomes (e.g. 30% admin time reduction).

• Patient experience matters: Virtual care and AI diagnostics can improve quality and convenience. Early data suggests telehealth does not drive unnecessary visits, while predictive models reduce readmissions by up to 50%.

• Strategic change drives growth: Integrated digital programs (EHR, telehealth, AI) create a strong competitive position. Organizations that partner with consultants report measurable ROI and market leadership gains.

Healthcare is at an inflection point. Telehealth and AI are not just experiments but essential tools – if implemented wisely. Health system executives and digital health leaders benefit from partnering with consultants who have deep domain expertise. With seasoned guidance, hospitals and startups can turn telemedicine and AI investments into sustainable growth, cost savings, and superior patient care.

Conclusion

The evolution from telehealth to AI represents a major transformation in healthcare delivery. Hospitals, startups, and healthcare providers are now operating in a digital-first world, where efficiency, precision, and patient satisfaction drive success. IT consultants act as the bridge—helping healthcare organisations adopt telehealth systems, integrate AI-driven diagnostics, and ensure data security. By leveraging expert consulting, healthcare organisations can streamline workflows, improve patient outcomes, and stay compliant with evolving regulations.

In short, consulting firms are not just technical partners; they are strategic allies that help healthcare businesses thrive in an era where technology defines growth.