Survey Reveals Struggles in Achieving ROI from Virtual Care
Washington, D.C., Saturday, 1 November 2025.
A survey by Sage Growth Partners found that less than 30% of health system leaders report significant ROI from virtual care, highlighting the need for strategic evaluation and improvement.
Challenges in Achieving ROI
The revelation that fewer than 30% of health system leaders report achieving significant ROI from virtual care initiatives underscores substantial challenges in the healthcare sector. This statistic, derived from a survey conducted by Sage Growth Partners, highlights the pressing need for healthcare organizations to critically assess and refine their digital strategies. The failure to achieve measurable ROI suggests that many virtual care programs may not be sustainable under current operational models, requiring leaders to adopt more strategic approaches to digital health investments [1].
The Impact of Expired Telehealth Flexibilities
Further complicating the landscape is the recent expiration of telehealth flexibilities that were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. These flexibilities had expanded Medicare coverage for virtual care, allowing for broader implementation across healthcare systems. With their expiration due to the government shutdown earlier this month, many providers are now grappling with reverting to pre-pandemic guidelines, which restrict the scope and accessibility of telehealth services. This regulatory shift presents a significant hurdle for healthcare providers aiming to maintain or expand their virtual care offerings [2].
Technological Integration and Future Investments
A critical factor in achieving ROI from virtual care is the integration of technology within existing healthcare infrastructures. The survey indicates that nearly 78% of organizations anticipate needing to invest in new virtual care platforms within the next one to three years to better integrate with electronic health records (EHR) and IT systems. This shift is seen as essential not only for improving operational efficiency but also for enhancing patient experience, which has become the top strategic priority for C-suite executives in the healthcare sector [3].
Strategic Shifts and Industry Outlook
The transition from fee-for-service to value-based care models is driving healthcare organizations to prioritize patient experience alongside financial performance. However, the elusive nature of ROI from virtual care investments continues to challenge this transition. Healthcare executives are urged to consider more disciplined investment management practices, such as adopting shared-risk models in vendor contracts and continuously tracking the financial impact through ROI dashboards. Such strategic shifts are critical to ensuring that virtual care investments yield sustainable returns in the long run [4].