Will it be prompting by policymakers or technological innovation that ultimately moves providers and patients into the digital future?

Probably a bit of both, but our money's on innovation to do the lion's share of the work. To that end, Allscripts has announced plans to integrate the American Well(TM) Online Care telehealth platform into the Allscripts Electronic Health Records (EHR) platform, making connections for providers and patients a bit more convenient.

According to a company announcement, patients will have "new ways to access care, whether they are at home or on the road, (while) providers will benefit by offering high-quality online voice and video interactions documented via their electronic health record, enhancing care coordination across providers."

As Allscripts CEO Glen Tullman described it, "Allscripts telehealth solution will help provide convenient, safer and secure access to care and enable that care to be documented in the electronic health record--so that other providers can have up-to-date information. It will also give physicians an opportunity to get paid for telehealth, something that was a hurdle in the past."

Allscripts is partnering with American Well, a U.S. telehealth company, on the project. The companies will work to integrate American Well's Online Care platform into Allscripts electronic health records platform, and the integrated product should reach general availability early next year.

As for potential clients, University of South Florida (USF) Health, a partnership of USF's colleges of medicine, nursing, public health and pharmacy as well as USF Physician Group, is already planning to use this new offering. USF Health announced a partnership with American Well to make Online Care part of its integrated patient-centered healthcare system for The Villages, an over-55 residential community located near Tampa, Florida.

More information can be found here.