Telehealth Is Here to Stay — Celebrating Telehealth Awareness Week

Did you know, the threads of telehealth go back to the 60s and 70s? Healthcare entities—hospitals and universities—like Massachusetts General Hospital in 1967 were breaking new ground by using two-way video communication to address remote patients’ health concerns. In conjunction with Logan International Airport, medical consultations were conducted through a television link.

The telehealth industry has grown from the early days of pondering, “Will it work?” Today, we celebrate Telehealth Week with organizations like the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), to honor the clinicians, patients, and entities that have made significant contributions and medical advancements to cement telehealth as a viable and necessary avenue of virtual care.

Telehealth, Then and Now

First Products has played a role in advancing telehealth over the decades.

Some of our earliest medical cart customization projects were working with telemedicine integrators to customize mobile carts to address changing workflows as remote care became more mainstream in the 2010s and beyond. EHRs were emerging, and Healthcare providers, adopting a remote care model, needed units that uniquely address their workflows and caregiver comfort, and integrators needed medical carts that pulled all the telehealth components together.

Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic was an industry disruptor. With social distancing restraints in place and quarantines mandated, telehealth adoption grew rapidly. As did the application use cases, and the rising need to reach broader underserved communities or complex organizations like penitentiaries, where remote care addresses rising transportation costs, public safety concerns, and patient health.

What’s Next in Virtual Care?

Where’s all this going for the telehealth industry? Onward and upward! With the advent of exciting new technologies like AI and VR for a whole host of applications, the sky is the limit. We’ve pulled together a short list of common use cases for telehealth:

• Mental and Behavioral Health: Therapy and counseling (CBT, talk therapy, group sessions); psychiatric evals, medication management, or substance abuse support.
• Routine Follow-Up: Primary and preventive care for chronic condition monitoring (e.g., diabetes, hypertension), health screenings or coaching. For adults or pediatric care.
• Post-Acute, Chronic, or Specialty Care: Hospital discharge, wound care monitoring, or long-term condition management (e.g., heart failure, COPD). Also, specialty areas like Dermatology, Endocrinology, Neurology, and Oncology support.
• Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): Patients with connected devices like glucose monitors for continuous tracking and real-time alerts, or Tele-ICU / Remote Nursing supporting rural ICUs remotely, telenursing for check-ins and education, and other training applications.
• Emergency & Urgent Care Triage: Elevating pre-care concerns and reducing ER burdens.
• Remote Diagnostics & Imaging: Share scans and test results with specialists for second opinions in teleradiology and telepathology services.

Or amazing applications like Remote Surgeries (Tele-robotics) are a real thing. In March 2025, surgeons at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Houston, performed the first fully robotic heart transplant in the U.S. using a small incision above the belly button, avoiding opening the chest (Houston Chronicle). Additionally, administrative applications are growing, such as digital patient intake and consent, and telehealth billing.

Four Ways to Get Involved and Celebrate Telehealth Awareness Week

1. Check out the great resources the ATA will be presenting all week on the ATA website and other AMA virtual partner events.
2. See what the First Products Telehealth product lineup is for your virtual care needs.
3. Follow us on LinkedIn and join in our Telehealth Week conversation!

Innovative Telehealth Solutions from First Healthcare

At First Products, we partner with providers nationwide to help design and implement effective telehealth programs. From telemedicine carts and tablet roll stands to EMR/EHR charting workstations, our solutions are built for mobility, flexibility, and compliance.

With over 80 years of experience serving healthcare professionals, we’re ready to help you find — or build — the perfect-fit solution to deliver high-quality virtual care that improves access, satisfaction, and outcomes.