10 Best Telemedicine Platforms for Healthcare Providers in 2024

Choosing the right telemedicine platform is crucial if you want to care for patients online in the most flexible and trusted way. From primary care to specialties and solo practitioners to full practices, the best telemedicine platforms can help you meet your virtual care goals. In this guide, I ranked and reviewed the best 10 telemedicine platforms for care providers, along with my top 3 choices, so that you can pick the best one for you.

The volume of telehealth claims has now stabilized at 38 times higher than it was before the pandemic. Yes, 38 times higher. In fact, the telemedicine technologies industry has grown so much (16.5% CAGR ) that it’s expected to generate $82 Billion by 2028.

Practicing medicine on digital platforms presents new opportunities that many healthcare providers are looking into on a personal, and practice-wide level.

When picking the best telemedicine platforms, there are seemingly hundreds of options to compare. And all provide different levels of features, performance, ease of use, patient flow, and payment structures.

These telemedicine platform reviews will give you two simple takeaways:

1. How to pick the best platform for you.
2. What to expect when providing care remotely.

Whether you’re just getting started in telemedicine, starting a digital health business, or doing some competitive research, let’s pick the best telemedicine platforms and improve patient care in the process.

Let’s get started.

What is the Best Telemedicine Platform?

The best telemedicine platforms provide patients access to reputable providers, data security features, uptime, ease of use for both patient and provider, and offer attractive pay structures.

My top picks are Teladoc, Sesame Care, and PlushCare

Here are my top 10 picks for the best telemedicine platforms:

• Teladoc
• Sesame Care
• PlushCare
• MeMD
• HealthTap
• MDLive
• Virtuwell
• Amwell
• Doctor on Demand

1. Teladoc

As one of the first telehealth companies to surface in the US, Teladoc dates back to 2002, with roots in Dallas, Texas. The company’s original model allowed patients to consult with a licensed doctor at any time of day in one-off appointments. In 2015, the company founded by Byron Brooks and Michael Gordon went public and things changed.

Today, Teladoc, like other platforms on this list, makes most of its money from monthly and annual subscriptions paid by enrolled patients. As a healthcare provider, you can benefit from a position with flexible hours and on-demand services.

• Ease of Enrollment: You can view a full list of available opportunities with Teladoc Health Medical Group online. Sign up through the Teladoc Provider portal
• Licensing requirements: To join Teladoc, you must be a board certified professional in your specialty area, have an active state medical license(s), an active federal DEA certificate or number, no open licensing board complaints, probated, or restricted license, and be free from malpractice claims.
• Ease of securing patient flow: On-demand services
• Speciality areas: Teladoc offers services in various areas. These include dermatology, general medicine physician, mental health therapist, physician case manager, psychiatrists, registered dieticians, pediatrics, sexual health, and expert medical opinion.
• Technology platform: Solo Virtual Care
• Payment rates: Varied. According to ZipRecruiter, physicians with Teladoc are paid an average of $77/hour. Other sources cite $110/hour.
• Flexibility of scheduling: Hours vary per week depending on demand. Candidates need to commit 15-20 hours per week.
• Types of patients: Insured, uninsured, all ages.

2. Sesame Care

Sesame Care is a strong competitor for Teladoc and ranked as the #1 telehealth company in the US in 2021. Launched in 2019 by David Goldhill, (a healthcare reform advocate), this platform grew 25 times in its second year. Sesame says it focuses on providing patients with longer visits, increasing transparency in healthcare, and providing doctors with better pay by cutting out the middlemen.

• Ease of enrollment: Easy. List your practice directly or email doctors@sesamecare.com to get started listing your practice. Sign up through the Sesame Care Provider portal
• Licensing requirements: Professionals listed on the platform are required to share their active licensure, education, training, years of practice, and specializations. Patients are expected to practice their own due diligence in vetting providers.
• Ease of securing patient flow: On-demand services.
• Specialties areas: COVID-19 care, mental health, imaging, labs, skincare, urgent care, prescription refill, dental, sexual health,
• Technology platform: Direct-to-patient
• Payment rates: You set the price. Patients pay upfront, providers are paid on a weekly basis via direct deposit. Providers receive 100% of the provider price minus credit card processing fees and electronic funds transfer fees. This listed price may be a flat fee determined by Sesame or 10% of the Provider Price.
• Flexibility of schedule: 24-hour cancellation policy
• Types of patients: Insured, uninsured

3. PlushCare

PlushCare is a Silicon Valley-based primary care platform that offers ongoing healthcare, everyday care, urgent care, online prescriptions, online therapy, and mental health services to patients in the US. The company was launched in 2014 by Ryan McQuaid via a crowdfunding campaign. McQuaid had worked as a lead product manager at AT&T’s mHealth platform prior to establishing PlushCare. Patients can seek medical advice via video chat appointments, text chats for follow-up questions and concerns, and phone appointments on the platform.

• Ease of enrollment: Easy. Email providerrecruitment@plushcare.com to sign up or check out available Plush Care Provider Positions.
• Licensing requirements: Board certified, practicing physicians with a private practice are invited to join PlushCare. Top 50 medical school graduate or residency at a top US medical center is mandatory. You also must have active medical licenses in at least two states and be willing to obtain five or more, paid for by your practice.
• Ease of securing patient flow: On-demand services.
• Specialties areas: General practice physicians, urgent care, mental health, internal medicine.
• Technology platform: Direct-to-patient
• Payment rates: Full-time Physician Salary Range is $200,000 – $225,000+ plus full benefits. Independent Contractor rates are $110/hour weekdays, $130/hour Sat. and Sun.
• Flexibility of schedule: No set hours or schedules, you work as an independent contractor. Minimum of 20 hours/week of dedication.
• Types of patients: All, insured and uninsured.

4. MeMD

MeMD is Walmart’s virtual healthcare platform, based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

• Ease of enrollment: Easy. Sign up through the MeMD Provider Portal or contact providercareers@memed.me as an interested telehealthcare provider.
• Licensing requirements: Physicians must be licensed professionals and US board certified in specialties. Requirements for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and therapists are slightly different.
• Ease of securing patient flow: On-demand
• Specialties areas: Urgent care, talk therapy, psychiatry, social work, marriage counselors, family therapists.
• Technology platform: direct-to-patient

5. HealthTap

HealthTap was launched in January 2010, from Mountain View, California. The company became the world’s first global health practice, providing patients across the world with access to doctors via voice, text, and video. This platform engages volunteers from around the world in a worldwide effort to democratize health information and provide doctor insights in all languages.

In 2017, the company expanded and added Dr. A.I. Here’s a bit about what they offer.

• Ease of enrollment: Easy. Sign up through the HealthTap Provider Portal
• Licensing requirements: US-based, board certified, and in good standing. Interactions with patients are reviewed regularly by the platform’s medical operations team. You can join HealthTap as either a volunteer sharing your knowledge to be used for free by users, or as part of the platform’s medical group, as a paid doctor consulting with patients through appointments. You must be approved for the HealthTap Doctor Network first and then you have the chance to be approved for the medical group.
• Ease of securing patient flow: On-demand.
• Specialties areas: Numerous. Check the list of specialties here.
• Technology platform: Dr. A.I
• Payment rates: competitive.
• Flexibility of schedule: You choose your hours.
• Types of patients: All, insured and uninsured.

6. MDLIVE

Founded by Randy Parker in 2009, MDLive is based in South Florida and has been labeled as one of the area’s most successful healthcare technology companies. Medical professionals operating on the platform have an average of ten years of experience. The platform’s mobile app allows users to access care from anywhere, at any time, in the US.

• Ease of enrollment: Easy. Sign up through the MDLive Provider Portal
• Licensing requirements: Board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Dermatology, Pediatrics, or Psychiatry. Must have an active and unrestricted DEA license and be a minimum of 4 years post-residency or independently licensed for the same amount of time.
• Ease of securing patient flow: On-demand
• Specialties areas: primary care physicians, dermatology, psychology, psychiatry,
• Technology platform: Direct-to-patient
• Types of patients: All, insured and uninsured.

7. Virtuwell

Virtuwell is headquartered in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area and offers patients medical services focused on people, experience, health, and stewardship. As with others in this list, this platform aims to save consumers time and money when it comes to their medical consultations.

Virtuwell offers medical service via board certified nurse practitioners who make diagnoses and offer treatment plans. This is done to enhance the affordability of the platform for all. The maximum cost of each visit for patients is $59. No cost is applied if Virtuwell can offer treatment.

• Ease of enrollment: Must apply to open positions. Apply through the Virtuwell Careers Portal
• Licensing requirements: Must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing and a formal nurse practitioner program and licensed and board certified, or eligible for this, in Wisconsin or Minnesota. Applicants must also have a minimum of 2,080 hours of primary care clinical practice, and live in Minnesota or Wisconsin.
• Ease of securing patient flow: On-demand
• Specialties areas: Sinus, cold and allergy, women’s health, kids’ health, eye and ear, skin and rashes, sexual health, flu, chronic and preventive. For a full list, click here.
• Technology platform: Direct-to-patient
• Flexibility of schedule: must be available every other weekend and two holidays, at least 16 hours/week, and complete 4 to 8-hour shifts between 7am-11pm.
• Types of patients: All, insured and uninsured.

8. Amwell

Amwell is more than a telehealth platform for doctors and patients. Formerly known as American Well, this platform has solutions for clinicians and patients but also powers digital health systems for government agencies, hospitals, nursing facilities, private practices, and more. Health care providers can join Amwell as sole practitioner in telehealth or sign up their small or medium independent practices for this service. Ranked #1 by J.D. Power in patient telehealth satisfaction in 2020, Amwell is a leading digital healthcare provider.

• Ease of enrollment: Easy. Apply through the Amwell Physician Portal. Or if you want to access their technology for your private practice access their Private Practice Portal.
• Licensing requirements: board certified
• Ease of securing patient flow: On-demand
• Specialties areas: Family physician, urgent care, therapy, psychiatry, social work, pediatrics, psychology, psychotherapy, sleep
• Technology platform: Direct-to-patient
• Payment rates: According to Indeed.com, Amwell pays physicians approximately $80/hour
• Flexibility of schedule: join the platform as an associate physician and develop your own schedule, or work in a part-time or full-time role with shifts in two-hour blocks.
• Types of patients: All, insured and uninsured.

9. 98point6

Some people prefer written words over video communications. As a healthcare platform, 98point6 answers this need by providing text-based primary care that keeps things simple. Patients get access to discreet care, including prescriptions and labs, anywhere at any time through text messaging with qualified medical professionals.

• Ease of enrollment: Must apply to open position. Apply through the 98point6 Careers Portal
• Licensing requirements: Board certified, licensed in Arizona, California, Florida, Texas and/or Washington with 5+ years of experience working in primary care.
• Specialties areas: primary care, mental health
• Technology platform: Direct-to-patient
• Payment rates: $100/hour or more
• Flexibility of schedule: Available to work at least 8 hours per week
• Types of patients: All, insured and uninsured.

10. Doctor On Demand

Dr. On Demand is now part of Included Health offering patients and providers flexible solutions and assistance. Doctor on Demand was founded in 2012 by a team of professionals that included Dr. Phil McGraw (also known as the famous TV personality Dr. Phil), and his son Jay McGraw. Dr. Phil has had his own TV show since 2002 and helps provide advice for guests on a variety of issues. While he has a doctorate in psychology, he is not a licensed psychologist.

• Ease of enrollment: Must apply to open position. Apply through the Included Health Careers Portal
• Licensing requirements: Board certified, home state license required, multi-state license preferred, ability to acquire additional state licenses
• Ease of securing patient flow: On-demand
• Specialties areas: Psychiatry, social work, counseling, psychology, physician, urgent care, mental health, chronic care, preventive health
• Technology platform: Direct-to-patient
• Flexibility of schedule: Varied. Ability to work occasional weekends, and scheduled shifts.
• Types of patients: All, insured, and uninsured.

Summary

Digital platforms are helping to expand medical care into areas where patients may have few options for in–person care, and providing added convenience for those individuals living busy lives and in need of easy-to-access, affordable medical solutions.

Value-added service offerings like Remote Patient Monitoring are sought after by patients and you need a telemedicine platform that can meet patients where they are.

As a healthcare provider, working with an online telehealth platform can be an ideal way to gain more flexibility in your schedule, reduce time spent working away from home or as a form of extra income to supplement your practice.

Whatever your calling, telehealth presents an ever-changing landscape in healthcare with a multitude of opportunities.

You’re ready to get started with the telemedicine platform options now!

Learn more about making a difference in digital health and which resources might benefit you most – Medtech Founder provides in-depth information that helps you succeed in today’s digital health care.