Virtual health and telehealth tools will make value-based care delivery more efficient and potentially save US healthcare payers $10 billion per year, according to new analysis by Accenture, by streamlining much of the scut work physicians now perform during patient encounters.

“In a typical office visit, much of the physician’s time is spent gathering patient history, reviewing the information, considering potential treatment options, and interacting with the patient,” noted Accenture’s Dr. Kaveh Safavi and Frances Dare, in a Harvard Business Review op-ed.

“Imagine if the patient could provide this prior to the scheduled appointment,” they speculated. “Digital technologies can streamline the in-person exam by getting patients’ information, collecting symptom data and identifying potential options prior to the visit.”

Read their entire contribution here, in the Harvard Business Review.