Virtual care has moved beyond pilot programs. The 2026 Telehealth Benchmark Survey reveals that hospitals and health systems are aggressively embedding AI into their care delivery infrastructure and scaling virtual care across the entire enterprise. Based on insights from 167 U.S. health system leaders, this ninth annual report shows unprecedented alignment around AI adoption, shifting priorities toward care continuity, and the infrastructure changes needed to support rapid innovation, along with the real barriers holding organizations back.
- 99% of health systems plan to deploy at least one AI-enabled capability in virtual care this year, a massive vote of confidence in AI as enterprise infrastructure, not just a feature
- Virtual care quality perception jumped 9 points, with 89% of providers now rating virtual care on par with or better than in-person treatment
- ROI is accelerating: 30% of organizations achieved 15% or better returns on telehealth investments in 2025, the highest rate on record
- Ambient listening and clinical decision support are moving from pilot to production, with adoption rates jumping 50% year-over-year
- Care continuity is the new priority: Four of the top five telehealth program goals now center on managing chronic conditions, post-discharge care, and keeping patients within the system
- Talent and integration are the biggest barriers: 71% cite lack of internal AI expertise and integration challenges as threats to meeting their 2026 goals
