Virtual care: The future of healthcare
eolas Magazine sits down with Sarah Jane O’Dwyer, CEO and founder of IntuVu Health, and a clinician who brings over two decades of experience guiding healthcare organisations toward operational excellence and strategic growth, to discuss virtual care.
eolas Magazine (EM): How do you define virtual care in an Irish context?
Sarah Jane O’Dwyer (SJO’D): Virtual care refers to the provision of healthcare services remotely using digital technology. In Ireland, virtual care encompasses a range of services, including telemedicine consultations, remote patient monitoring, digital health platforms, and diagnostics. It is a critical tool for addressing challenges in the Irish healthcare system, such as long wait times, workforce shortages, and geographic disparities in access to care.
In the Irish context, IntuVu Health aligns with the goals of Sláintecare, Ireland’s national health reform strategy, which aims to deliver equitable, integrated, and patient-centred care. It supports the vision of providing timely care closer to home, reducing pressure on emergency departments, and enhancing community-based services.
EM: What are the benefits for the healthcare workforce and for patient outcomes?
SJO’D: IntuVu Health’s model has significantly enhanced efficiency in healthcare delivery by reducing the need for in-person emergency visits by over 80 per cent, allowing clinicians to focus on more complex cases.
Our combination of in-house clinician managed services and our highly regulated cutting edge contactless technology reduces the burden on hospitals, GP practices and insurance providers which frees up time for patient care.
We offer flexibility to our clinicians through both remote care – through our central command centre –and ‘hands on’ clinical work with our healthcare partners. IntuVu Health’s scalable care model allows providers to manage larger patient populations safely and effectively.
EM: What was your rationale for founding IntuVu Health?
SJO’D: The decision to found IntuVu Health stemmed from both a personal and professional recognition of critical challenges in healthcare delivery in Ireland and globally.
Unfortunately I had an incident where I required emergency care for a cardiac issue. I presented to a Dublin emergency department with a referral letter and abnormal test results. I sat in the waiting area for six hours. The department was so overcrowded I was not even triaged.
This is not just a challenge in Ireland, globally we have seen waiting lists grow exponentially, overcrowded emergency departments, and the strain on healthcare systems from an ageing population, workforce shortages, and budgetary constraints.
IntuVu Health aims to address these challenges by leveraging regulatory complaint virtual care technologies and clinical management delivered through our central command centre to improve access, enhance patient outcomes, and alleviate pressures on the healthcare workforce.
Specifically, IntuVu Health focuses on remote emergency triage and rapid supported early discharge services, using our contactless technology to monitor vital signs and our clinicians enable efficient, real-time care. This innovative approach prevents unnecessary emergency department visits and facilitates patient-centred, community-based care, again, aligning with the principles of Sláintecare.
My previous professional experiences in healthcare leadership and innovation have been pivotal in shaping the vision and execution of IntuVu Health.
As a former emergency care nurse and leader in hospital management, I have first-hand experience of the inefficiencies and pain points within traditional healthcare systems which informed the need for a more agile, tech-driven approach with clinical oversight.
Over the last 25 years I have worn many hats – from project manager, commercial roles, COO to CEO across acute and community settings in Europe and the Middle East in leading organisations.
Together with my leadership team of experts across multiple domains in healthcare delivery, we have extensive experience in implementing digital health solutions to drive innovation and collaboration. These experiences collectively underpin the strategic direction of IntuVu Health, providing evidence-based innovation, scalable solutions to deliver safe and effective care.
EM: What are the common trends or challenges that you are observing internationally?
SJO’D: Globally, healthcare systems face common challenges, including workforce shortages, ageing populations, rising healthcare costs, compliance, regulation in virtual care and developed reimbursement models. These are critical factors that ensure the safety, privacy, and efficacy of digital health solutions. Compliance with healthcare regulations, such as GDPR in Europe and HIPAA in the US, is essential to protect patient data and maintain trust.
Virtual care has emerged as a key solution, with trends pointing to the integration of digital technologies like AI, remote monitoring, and telemedicine to improve efficiency and outcomes.
However, disparities in access to these tools, particularly in rural and underserved areas, remain a significant challenge. Additionally, inconsistent policies and reimbursement models across countries create barriers to scaling virtual care effectively. Despite these hurdles, the global healthcare landscape increasingly recognises the potential of digital health to address systemic issues and improve patient-centred care.
The Covid-19 pandemic was a turning point for virtual care, driving its rapid adoption and normalising its use in mainstream healthcare. With lockdowns and overwhelmed systems, telemedicine and remote monitoring became essential for maintaining continuity of care.
This period also accelerated innovation in digital health technologies and highlighted the need for scalable, efficient solutions and regulated technology. Governments introduced temporary reimbursement policies, setting the stage for long-term regulatory frameworks.
Patients and providers alike embraced virtual care’s convenience, and expectations have shifted towards more flexible, technology-enabled care options. While the pandemic catalysed significant progress, it also revealed the importance of investing in equitable access and sustainable integration for virtual care’s long-term success.
EM: What is your overarching vision for the IntuVu Health launch in 2025 and subsequent scaling?
SJO’D: I believe in fair and equitable care for all, regardless of your circumstances. Had I not had private health insurance when I required care, who knows how long I would have had to wait to be triaged. The evidence is widely reported on the correlation of length of time a patient waits in the emergency department and their deterioration.
Through our market research, we have identified a growing demand for our services, with a waitlist of 12 healthcare providers spanning Europe, the Middle East, Canada, and the USA. These organisations are facing similar challenges in healthcare delivery.
This broad international interest underscores the global relevance of our solutions and the potential for scaling IntuVu Health’s impact in improving healthcare outcomes and operational efficiency worldwide.
Our ultimate goal is to be at the forefront of a healthcare transformation that empowers patients, supports clinicians, and creates more sustainable healthcare systems worldwide.
EM: Do you have a message for policymakers?
SJO’D: I would emphasise that virtual care is not just a convenience – it is a necessity for building resilient and sustainable healthcare systems. As the demands on healthcare grow, innovative solutions like IntuVu Health must become integral parts of care delivery. By prioritising supportive policies, including funding for digital health infrastructure, equitable access to technology, and clear reimbursement frameworks, policy-makers can accelerate the adoption of virtual care and unlock its full potential.
Additionally, it is crucial to focus on regulatory frameworks to guide the appropriate use of virtual care technologies, ensuring they meet established clinical standards and quality controls.
The lack of clear, universally applicable regulations can be a barrier to scaling virtual care, which is why ongoing efforts to harmonise policies, update telemedicine laws, and streamline reimbursement models are so important for the long-term success of virtual health solutions both in Ireland and internationally. Incorporating regulatory requirements is essential for the safe, secure, and effective delivery of virtual care at scale.
Collaborative efforts between governments, healthcare providers, and technology innovators can lead to significant improvements in patient outcomes, workforce efficiency, and overall system sustainability.
The time to act is now – virtual care is the future of healthcare, and bold policy decisions today will define the health of our populations tomorrow.
