Navigating Challenges to Prepare for the Future of Telehealth

“Whenever we face a challenge of what we're doing, we always come back to, ‘Does this serve the patient? Yes, or no?’” Michael Rubio, PA-C, said. “And whatever that answer is, we adjust to make it say ‘Yes’ because we don't do anything if it doesn't serve the patient.”

Renata Block, MMS, PA-C, a board-certified physician assistant in Chicago, Illinois, and a Dermatology Times Editorial Advisory Board member, interviewed Rubio, co-founder of Well Revolution. In a previous interview, Rubio discussed the significance of telehealth in dermatology and how it can be used in conjunction with timely in-person care.

Block and Rubio emphasized the unique role of PAs in telemedicine, noting their ability to handle front-line patient care and make critical referrals when necessary, making them ideal for telehealth services.

“I think we all have our niche, and, in the end, we all complete the picture,” Block said, regarding being a PA. “We're all a piece of the puzzle for this healthcare system. And I think we all equally bring something to the table in our own unique way to make the patient better.”

Rubio also aims to empower PAs with flexible work opportunities through Well Revolution, allowing them to offer virtual care without being tied to restrictive contracts.

“I am so proud to be a PA. I love my training. We just have a skill set that's very different than the other healthcare providers,” Rubio said. “We can kind of see the bigger picture I feel, at least in my experience. So, to me, PAs make perfect sense for telemedicine because we're frontline providers and we know when to refer when things aren’t right.”

He also points out that his program can generate additional revenue for practices by addressing missed calls and handling patient care before in-person visits. One practice Rubio works with has 30 sites across 5 boroughs in New York City. Before Well Revolution, they were missing about 30% of their calls and now, they’re offering valuable opportunities for patients to interact with their clinicians when they need them most.

Rubio also mentioned the HIPAA compliance of the platform, detailing its regulatory partnership with Drata to ensure privacy and security, which many patients find to be most important in seeking care. They also have business agreements which each practice to protect patient data internally. Another common challenge in telehealth surrounds insurance. Well Revolution uses a combination of insurance billing (80%) and direct payments (20%) to ensure patients receive care, despite varying state regulations.

Looking forward, Rubio envisions expanding Well Revolution beyond New York to other states and cities like Chicago. His goal is to make healthcare more accessible and convenient for patients by integrating and marketing the platform into various healthcare systems, including pharmacies. Ultimately, Rubio hopes to create a global network where patients can access dermatology care anywhere, potentially reaching a billion patients and having a million providers on the platform.

‘It’s a win-win,” Rubio concluded. “If you want to take this and run with it where you're at, let's talk.”

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