The use of virtual care has skyrocketed in the last year, with as many as 64% of global healthcare leaders saying they’re currently investing heavily in it. But while this healthcare technology trend is generally seen as impacting the patient-provider relationship, the rise of virtual collaboration between providers themselves offers equally promising opportunities.

The accelerating adoption of tele-ICUs in acute care is a prime example. Led by an intensivist team in a central monitoring facility that acts similarly to an air traffic control center, a tele-ICU can extend critical care resources to the bedside, no matter where the hospital is. With time-critical data capture, these intensivists can be responsible for 50-1,500 remote ICU beds at a time, and quickly intervene should data trends reveal early signs of patient deterioration.

As another example, innovations in medical imaging such as the Radiology Operations Command Center are giving expert imaging technologists the power to remotely train, guide, and assist less experienced or specialized colleagues in satellite locations. This can allow for over-the-shoulder support in real time, making specialist expertise more widely available across sites to ensure consistent image quality across sites while improving access to care.

Similarly, in ultrasound, using a live collaboration platform, experienced sonographers can remotely assist their local counterparts with exams, while colleagues can use the same platform to discuss patients’ medical status with them. Interventional physicians, who perform image-guided minimally invasive procedures, have also started to explore the use of virtual collaboration platforms to provide remote peer-to-peer guidance and education.

Ultimately, the power of virtual collaboration is threefold: it can make specialized care more accessible, it can make it more affordable, and it can improve consistency in the quality of care and reduced safety risks in times of COVID-19. Three big reasons why this healthcare technology trend is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.