70% Increase in Telemedicine Visits Drives Patient Access and Revenue Growth at Cleveland Clinic

A Case Study of Cleveland Clinic’s Success

Discover how Cleveland Clinic leveraged telemedicine to achieve a 50% reduction in no-shows, save $88 per follow-up, and boost patient volume by 25%, transforming their operations and patient care model.

The Business: Cleveland Clinic’s Telemedicine Program

A globally recognized healthcare institution, with over 6,000 physicians and 200 locations worldwide. They are known for adopting cutting-edge medical practices and technologies. In recent years, Cleveland Clinic saw the need to embrace telemedicine to enhance patient care, improve operational efficiency, and create new revenue streams.

• Industry: Healthcare and medical services
• Scope: Over 1 million telemedicine visits annually
• Service Offering: Full-scale virtual consultations across a wide range of specialties, from cardiology to pediatrics

The Objective

Cleveland Clinic faced several healthcare challenges that threatened its ability to provide optimal patient care. These challenges were not unique but were indicative of broader issues within the industry:

To address these issues, Cleveland Clinic set forth a clear objective: leverage telemedicine to transform patient care delivery. The goal was to:

The Strategy: Implementing Telemedicine at Scale

Cleveland Clinic integrated telemedicine into its core patient care model, transforming how they delivered services across various specialties. Here’s how they did it:

Additionally, the package included educational tools and self-care resources to support patients between visits. By 2020, Cleveland Clinic had embraced telemedicine fully, conducting over 1.2 million virtual visits—an impressive 70% increase from the previous year.

Success Factors of Cleveland Clinic’s Telemedicine Strategy

Cleveland Clinic’s telemedicine success is rooted in its patient-first approach, addressing key needs for both patients and providers. Here’s how they achieved it:

• Step 1: Increased Accessibility
  Telemedicine enabled care for patients in rural areas and those with mobility issues. In 2020, 16% of telemedicine visits came from outside their traditional catchment area.
• Step 2: Enhanced Convenience
  Flexible virtual appointments allowed patients to receive care from home, leading to a 92% satisfaction rate due to the ease and accessibility of the service.
• Step 3: Cost Reduction and Revenue Growth
  Virtual visits reduced follow-up appointment costs by $88 each and were 15% more time-efficient than in-person visits. This allowed doctors to see more patients and contributed to a 25% increase in patient volume. Additionally, the ability to offer shorter virtual consultations for minor issues generated 30% more revenue.

The Results: Measurable Success for Cleveland Clinic

Conclusion: Telemedicine—A Game-Changer for Clinics

Cleveland Clinic’s success with telemedicine demonstrates its potential to revolutionize healthcare. Virtual care provides better patient access, enhances satisfaction, cuts operational costs, and opens new revenue opportunities. Their experience proves that telemedicine can boost efficiency, patient loyalty, and growth for clinics of all sizes.

Is telemedicine the key to transforming your practice? The results speak for themselves. Whether you aim to streamline operations, reduce costs, or expand your patient base, telemedicine offers a proven solution.

Contact us today to explore how a tailored telemedicine solution can benefit your clinic.

References: