Verizon has shut down its telehealth service, Virtual Visits, with MDLive picking up its stuff as we speak. Already, the telehealth provider has managed to scoop several high-profile employees, including Leigh Ann Ruggles, who worked as director for strategy and business development and marketing; and Sheila McCormick, the mobile health strategy and marketing lead for Verizon Mobile Health Solutions.

MDLive has diversified its platform and is continuing to add medical specialties.Verizon launched Virtual Visits in June to provide non-emergency consults with physicians from their mobile phones, tablets or PCs as a cheaper alternative to actual visits to the emergency room or urgent care facility.

According to Nancy Green, managing principal for Healthcare Innovations at Verizon, the Big Red carrier will stay in the telemedicine business, offering services such as HIPAA-compliant video and security authentication. She added that the rapid pace of change in the healthcare industry meant clients’ interests and needs had changed.

Meanwhile, MDLive has diversified its platform and is continuing to add medical specialties. In November, it acquired Breakthrough Behavioral to add telepsychology to its users and also offers teledermatology. By the end of this year, the company expects to have 8 million members.

[Via: MedCityNews]