During the pandemic, telehealth nursing units were heroes, providing valuable healthcare services to people across the state. However, as the pandemic recedes, there is a shift happening in healthcare. Oregon Health & Science University recently cut its telehealth nursing unit, signaling a change in how consumers access healthcare. The original model of highly transactional telehealth interactions is being replaced with a more holistic approach that incorporates AI and virtual technologies. Some believe this shift is necessary to better serve patients and meet the demands of modern consumers. Telehealth as a business model has faced challenges, with companies like Amazon and Walmart experiencing difficulties in making it profitable.

However, healthcare technology startup Fabric has acquired Walmart's telehealth division and plans to enhance its presence in the employer market. Fabric offers a broad range of telemedicine solutions that streamline workflows and leverage AI to improve both provider and patient experiences. The future of telehealth is expected to incorporate AI and virtual reality, with innovations like holograms gaining traction. Crescent Regional Hospital is the first in the US to introduce the "Holobox, " a 3D system that projects life-sized holograms of doctors for real-time consultations, revolutionizing patient-doctor interactions and saving time for doctors. This technology has the potential to benefit rural and underserved areas.