Healthcare Insights
The healthcare specialties that use telehealth the most
From routine check-ups to preoperative surgical consultations and remote therapy sessions, telehealth continues to play a meaningful role in care delivery, even as overall utilization has moderated since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. While in-person care has largely resumed, telehealth adoption remains well above pre-pandemic levels.
Telehealth is often used interchangeably with “telemedicine,” but the terms have different meanings. According to the FCC, telemedicine refers to medical, diagnostic, and treatment-related services provided by doctors. Telehealth is similar but includes a wider range of remote healthcare services provided by nurses, pharmacists, or social workers.
Looking ahead, telehealth utilization will be shaped by policy and reimbursement dynamics. Several pandemic-era Medicare telehealth flexibilities have been temporarily extended into early 2026, but long-term policy direction remains unclear. As a result, questions around reimbursement, covered services, and who can deliver care virtually are back on the table.
Understanding which specialties continue to rely on telehealth can offer insight into where virtual care is most resilient and where future demand is most likely to persist, depending on legislative outcomes.
For healthcare technology companies, life sciences organizations, and digital health vendors, a provider’s telehealth utilization—or lack thereof—is a key market signal. Understanding which primary specialties bill the most telehealth claims can help these companies align commercial strategies with where virtual care is actively being delivered today.
Below, we used the Definitive Healthcare PhysicianView product to identify the top primary specialties with the most providers utilizing telehealth technology in 2024.
Top telehealth utilization by specialty
1. Social Worker - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
2. Psychology - Clinical Psychologist
3. Nurse - Nurse Practitioner
4. Psychiatry
5. Dietitian/Nutrition Professional
6. Physician Assistant
7. Family Practice
8. Therapy - Speech Language Pathologist
9. Internal Medicine
10. Pediatric Medicine
Which specialties have the most providers using telehealth?
Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) rank first in telehealth utilization, according to Definitive Healthcare data. As the largest segment of the U.S. mental health workforce, LCSWs frequently use telehealth to treat behavioral and mental health conditions and to coordinate care alongside other clinicians. Clinical psychologists rank second, followed by nurse practitioners in third place. Psychiatry follows closely, reinforcing the strong connection between telehealth and mental health services.
What are the best specialties for telehealth?
Many healthcare practices incorporate telehealth in some parts of their daily operations. However, healthcare specialties that focus on treating patients with mental or behavioral health conditions may benefit the most from using telehealth. Here are just a few reasons why:
- Continuity of care. Telehealth helps ensure patients maintain their relationship with their provider even when faced with disruptions due to travel, relocation, or unforeseen circumstances.
- Improved accessibility. Telehealth breaks down geographic barriers by making mental health (and other types of care) available to anyone with an internet-enabled device. This is particularly beneficial to people who live in clinically underserved and rural areas, as access to transportation, distance from providers, and getting time off from work to see a specialist are often significant obstacles.
- Increased privacy. Telehealth offers patients a safe, secure, HIPAA-compliant space to work through mental illness or condition in the comfort of their own homes. According to the American Psychiatric Association, this added layer of privacy may help eliminate social stigmas around mental health and encourage more patients to pursue the care they need.
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