Telehealth integration aims to address gaps in primary care access

In recent years, primary care has faced growing challenges, including longer wait times for patients and fragmented experiences as they move between providers and specialists. At the same time, patient expectations are changing, with more people seeking flexible digital options and same-day care that does not require taking time off work or arranging childcare.

Primary care physicians are also experiencing increased pressure, often seeing patients in person for issues that could be managed more efficiently through other means. Traditional models are limited by the number of physical clinics available to serve communities.

Ascension is addressing these challenges by integrating virtual care into its primary care services. The organization recently launched Connected Primary Care, a team-based model combining Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), technology, and streamlined workflows. The goal is to improve access to timely care and reduce delays for patients.

"Instead of treating telehealth as a completely distinct type of care, we’re building it into the core of our primary care practices. We believe virtual care is an effective way for our advanced practice providers to expand their reach and ultimately provide better healthcare access to their community," Ascension stated.

The Connected Primary Care program began in Indiana in February 2025. It started with one APRN providing virtual visits across two clinics three days a week. In the first four months, this provider completed 887 virtual visits—about 35 per week—with many appointments replacing traditional in-person visits. This approach helped avoid scheduling bottlenecks at clinics and reduced travel for patients. Because this model is not tied to the overhead costs of traditional clinics, Ascension was able to expand quickly once initial goals were met.

The new approach led to nearly double the number of monthly virtual visits at participating Indiana practices. Based on these results, Ascension plans to extend the Connected Primary Care model to other locations.

Virtual care can help vulnerable populations—such as those with mobility or transportation barriers—by making it easier to access appointments for acute needs, chronic conditions, or mental health support without needing an in-person visit. For clinicians, integrated scheduling tools and electronic health records help make virtual care delivery more efficient.

Ascension also emphasized the importance of federal policy in supporting telehealth expansion: "Federal policymakers can help accelerate these new care delivery models by making critical telehealth flexibilities permanent." The organization noted that uncertainty around short-term renewals makes it difficult to sustain innovative programs like Connected Primary Care.

According to Ascension, Medicaid and Medicare patients use telehealth at higher rates than other groups. If Congress does not extend current telehealth flexibilities by the end of September, millions could lose access—leading to fewer options for vulnerable groups and potentially increasing emergency room visits for manageable conditions.

"We have the evidence that virtual care is popular, effective, and bipartisan. Making federal telehealth flexibilities permanent would allow millions of patients to get care when and where they need it, while enabling providers like Ascension to keep innovating and shaping the future of primary care," said Ascension.