Understanding the Impact of Remote Working in Healthcare
- Written by: Thryve
- 8 minutes
Once the world we knew completely shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and so did the well-known traditional working culture. What was once a temporary decision has gained global recognition as remote working. Today, it has evolved from being a niche benefit of startups to a widespread standard that allows flexible work arrangements. Teleworking remains a quite new but defining feature with its benefits and doubts in different fields and aspects. One key area seeing transformation is the healthcare system. The rise of remote work is affecting how people access care, how healthcare professionals deliver services, and how health data is generated, managed, and used. Since health organisations are one of the most vital ones, gaining a better understanding of how the teleworking shift is affecting the system is quite a sophisticated yet significant mission.
This article explores the evolving remote working healthcare impact, weighing both the opportunities and challenges, and examining what it means for digital health providers and insurers.
Impacts of Remote Work on Healthcare Access
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, teleworking was relatively rare across Europe. In 2018, only 5.2% of employees in the European Union worked primarily from home. However, during the pandemic, this number increased significantly—nearly 40% of the EU workforce began working remotely. This shift not only changed how and where people work but also opened new doors for integrating work-life balance and health management. Although remote working is a powerful solution to many problems in healthcare institutions, it is also associated with obstacles, the identification of which leads to better planning for its use. Health organisations need to learn how to implement necessary policies and norms, in order for teleworking effectively and efficiently reshape the current healthcare system. Nevertheless, implementing such an initiative comes with its ups and downs that need to be carefully evaluated.
Benefits of Remote Work in Healthcare
- Increased Access to Care Through Telehealth; For individuals living in rural, remote, or underserved areas, remote work often comes with improved access to digital tools and a more flexible schedule. This enables easier adoption of telehealth services, especially when paired with remote monitoring tools or employer-supported wellness platforms. Telemedicine appointments can replace the need for time-consuming in-person visits, reducing geographic and logistical barriers to care. Digital-first work environments also normalize online interaction, making telehealth feel like a natural extension of daily life.
- Operational Efficiency for Healthcare Providers; Remote work is not just for patients. Administrative staff, health coaches, mental health professionals, and even some clinicians are now delivering services remotely. This can streamline workflows, reduce overhead costs, and allow better allocation of in-person resources for those who need them most. It also expands the talent pool, allowing healthcare providers to tap into specialists and professionals across broader geographies.
- Cost Savings for Patients and Providers; When care is virtual and fewer physical visits are required, there are fewer expenses related to commuting, childcare, or missed work hours. For healthcare systems, less demand for physical infrastructure means lower facility management costs. These financial efficiencies can improve access and sustainability, especially in value-based care models.
- Enhanced Patient Engagement and Self-Management; Remote work often fosters greater autonomy and flexibility, which can be leveraged to support more proactive self-care. Digital health tools such as wearable devices, connected fitness apps, and at-home testing kits make it easier for individuals to track and manage their health. Real-time feedback loops, nudges, and personalized insights can support behavior change—especially when linked to remote coaching or wellness benefits.
- Richer Health Data Collection; Remote workers using wearables and telehealth tools generate continuous streams of passive and active health data. This data can provide insights into physical activity, stress levels, sleep patterns, and more. Health organizations can use this information to personalize care, detect issues early, and conduct population health research that improves outcomes. Learn more about how Thryve’s health insurance API helps insurers and digital health platforms connect with over 500 data sources.
Challenges of Remote Work in the Healthcare
- Unequal Access; While many benefit from digital healthcare, others are left behind. Older adults, low-income populations, and those in rural areas may lack access to the internet or digital literacy, creating disparities in who benefits from remote healthcare options.
- Data Security and Privacy Risks; As more health interactions happen outside traditional clinical environments, concerns about data protection grow. Remote access increases the risk of breaches and misuse. Organizations must implement strict compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and national regulations—especially when handling sensitive medical data across multiple platforms.
- Quality of Care Concerns; Not all care can or should be delivered remotely. Some conditions require physical examinations, diagnostic testing, or direct observation. There are also risks of misdiagnosis or fragmented care when providers rely solely on virtual visits without access to integrated records or a comprehensive view of the patient.
- Burnout Among Remote Healthcare Workers; Remote work isn’t always ideal for healthcare providers either. Telehealth professionals may experience isolation, blurred work-life boundaries, and digital fatigue. Lack of in-person collaboration can impact job satisfaction and care quality over time. Institutions must design remote work environments with structured support and wellness tools.
- Interoperability and Integration Gaps; Many health platforms, wearables, and telehealth systems are still siloed. This fragmentation makes it hard to consolidate health data, coordinate care, or track outcomes. Without interoperable systems, valuable insights are lost and administrative inefficiencies persist.
- Legal and Regulatory Complexity; Telehealth regulations vary widely by region and are still evolving. Issues such as cross-border licensing, reimbursement models, and liability for remote care are still being addressed. Organizations must stay informed and agile to remain compliant as the legal landscape continues to develop.
The Role of Digital Health Technology
Technology plays a central role in aligning remote work with better healthcare access and delivery. Wearables, mobile health apps, digital coaching tools, and virtual clinics all contribute to a more connected and patient-centered model. When properly implemented, these technologies:
- Enable asynchronous communication (e.g., chat with providers)
- Support chronic disease monitoring
- Promote mental health management
- Allow personalized insights from continuous data
- Facilitate outcome-based care models
Companies like Thryve enable digital health providers and insurers to connect real-time health data to services, plans, and engagement strategies. This empowers platforms to move from reactive care to proactive, data-informed health journeys.
The Future of Remote Work and Healthcare
As remote work continues to evolve, the healthcare system must adapt with it. The most successful organizations will:
- Invest in data infrastructure that supports remote care, wellness monitoring, and patient engagement.
- Prioritize interoperability to ensure that data from wearables, apps, and EMRs can be combined and used meaningfully.
- Embrace personalized preventive care, using digital tools to help users avoid illness and manage conditions early.
- Expand access and equity by creating solutions that are inclusive of underserved and digitally-disconnected populations.
- Focus on hybrid care models that combine virtual convenience with in-person excellence.
Remote work is not a trend—it’s a shift in how society operates. Digital health leaders must align their strategies to harness this transformation for better health outcomes, lower costs, and deeper user engagement.
How Thryve Makes Remote Work in Healthcare Possible
Thryve offers the infrastructure to turn remote work into a health opportunity. Our platform enables seamless integration of wearable, mobile, and clinical data into digital health and insurance workflows. We help you:
- Connect to 500+ Health Data Sources
Access data from a wide network of wearables and medical-grade devices—including Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Health, and more—through a single, unified API. - Standardize Cross-Device Health Metrics
Automatically harmonize diverse data streams (like activity, sleep, and HRV) into one consistent and actionable format, regardless of device or source. - Ensure Secure and Compliant Infrastructure
Rely on GDPR- and HIPAA-compliant systems with end-to-end encryption and a privacy-first approach to managing sensitive health data. - Automate Health Triggers and Personalized Rules
Create dynamic feedback loops with custom rules to deliver nudges, alerts, or milestone recognition based on individual real-time metrics. - Enable Scalable Insights and Visualization
Offer intuitive dashboards that help users, coaches, or clinicians track progress, detect trends, and make data-driven decisions with confidence.
Ready to reimagine remote work in your health organization?
Book a demo with us to get started!
Sources
- Garavand, A., Jalali, S., Hajipour Talebi, A., & Sabahi, A. (2022). Advantages and disadvantages of teleworking in healthcare institutions during COVID-19: A systematic review. Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, 34, 101119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2022.101119
- Speroni, K. G. (2023, May 31). Remote work in nursing: Facilitators and barriers. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 28(2), Manuscript 1. https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol28No02Man01
