Pioneering Virtual Treatment Techniques in the US: A Model for Healthcare in African Nations?

Mercy’s Virtual Care Center, a state-of-the-art hospital situated on the outskirts of St. Louis, USA, is striving to revolutionize healthcare with their groundbreaking virtual treatment techniques. By leveraging advanced technology, they aim to provide efficient, cost-effective healthcare from a distance.

According to a report on CNNMoney, their approach relies on maintaining consistent long-distance communication with patients. With the help of high-end two-way cameras and up-to-date health monitoring tech like pulse oximeters connected to an iPad, staff members can monitor patients’ vital signs in real time. This method helps reduce the usual hassles involved in clinic visits and minimizes the risk of patient readmission, which currently costs an additional $41.3 billion annually in the US.

 *Leroy Strubberg, 80, uses his home equipment to connect with the hospital staff. Source: CNNMoney*

Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) paints a daunting picture of healthcare costs in the U.S. In 2014, healthcare spending in the country reached a staggering $3 trillion, or $9,523 per person, making up 17.5 percent of the nation’s GDP. Hence, innovative solutions like the one adopted by Mercy’s Virtual Care Center are timely and necessary.

Gavin Helton, the medical director of Mercy Virtual Care, told CNNMoney, “The sickest 5% of patients are typically responsible for about half the health care spent and many end up, unnecessarily, back in the hospital. We need an answer for these patients.”

Launched in October 2015, Mercy’s Virtual Care Center claims to be the first of its kind; a $54 million, four-story “hospital without beds” that cares for zero patients physically but serves many more through its comprehensive telemedicine services.

The center has recently initiated a pilot program focused on providing remote care for patients in the comfort of their homes. It caters primarily to 250 patients with complex chronic illnesses. This is not intended to completely replace emergency room visits but merely to provide a more convenient, cost-effective alternative for treatments and consultations that can be executed remotely.

Skeptics, naturally, do exist. The idea of a virtual treatment center is not welcomed by all who prefer traditional face-to-face interaction with their healthcare providers. But as the global population continues to expand, governments worldwide are being forced to explore novel, cost-effective methods to provide healthcare services to their citizens.

So how does this sit within the context of healthcare provision in African nations?

A report by ResearchGate reveals a striking disparity between the healthcare ratios across different continents. Africa currently has 2.3 healthcare workers per 1,000 population, miserably falling short of the Americas’ 24.8 healthcare workers per 1,000 population. Only a minuscule 1.3% of the world’s health workers care for victims of 25% of the global disease burden.

Adding to the crisis are factors like migration of clinical professionals from African nations to Europe and America, infrastructure constraints, and economic issues. Coupled with a forecasted population escalation to 430 million by 2025 in Nigeria alone, the problem is set to magnify unless dealt with strategically.

Given the prevalence of mobile technology across Africa, estimated to comprise nearly 400 million smartphones by next year, virtual healthcare centers similar to Mercy’s seem like a viable way forward. Particularly for the younger generation, projected to number about 200 million aged 15-24, this could transform healthcare accessibility.

The increase in broadband access, along with supportive governments and technology-savvy graduating doctors, could herald a new era of healthcare delivery, especially to rural areas. Undeniably, research and willingness to embrace technological advancements are prerequisite for this transformation.

Even as we grapple with the realities of global healthcare provision, the Virtual Care program’s record stands promising with a reported 33% decrease in emergency room visits and hospitalizations since its launch. If this can be achieved in the technologically advanced climate of the U.S., there is no reason why it cannot be replicated effectively in Africa.

*This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.*