FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New 2026 consumer research shows adults 65 and older now
adopt telemedicine at higher rates than any other age group; board-certified
family nurse practitioner Nika Asistio, APRN, FNP-C, explains what Nevada's
rapidly growing senior population is teaching the healthcare industry about
virtual care
Henderson, Nev., Oct. 10, 2026 — PRISM Medical Care, a Nevada-based virtual
primary care practice founded by board-certified family nurse practitioner Nika
Asistio, APRN, FNP-C, today addressed a consumer behavior shift that challenges
a widespread assumption about who actually uses telemedicine. New 2026 consumer
research confirms that adults 65 and older are now adopting telemedicine at
higher rates than any other age group — 43.3 percent adoption nationally among
seniors, compared to 38.9 percent among adults 45 to 64 — with rural residents
of all ages approaching 73 percent reliance on virtual care amid worsening
provider shortages. For Nevada, home to one of the fastest-growing senior
populations in the country, this behavioral shift carries substantial
implications for how healthcare is organized, delivered, and chosen.
Overturning the Common Assumption
For years, conventional wisdom has suggested that seniors
would be the slowest to adopt telemedicine. The 2026 consumer data tells a
dramatically different story. Rock Health research confirms 80 percent of all
consumers have now used telemedicine at least once. Patient satisfaction with
virtual care consistently reaches 75 percent or higher, with substantial
portions describing virtual visits as "as good or better" than
in-person care, according to JAMA-published research. Among adults 65 and
older, adoption now exceeds every younger demographic.
The reasons older adults are leading telemedicine
adoption are concrete and well-documented:
Transportation barriers. Seniors who no longer drive, are recovering
from procedures, or manage mobility limitations face substantial friction
accessing in-person care. Virtual visits eliminate the transportation problem
entirely.
Workforce shortage pressure. Nevada ranks near the bottom of U.S. states
for primary care providers per capita. One-third of residents live in federally
designated Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas. For seniors who
need consistent care, waiting four to eight weeks for appointments isn't
acceptable — virtual care provides same-week access.
Rural access necessity. All rural Nevada counties face provider shortages. For
seniors in Pahrump, Elko, Ely, Winnemucca, Tonopah, Mesquite, and other
outlying communities, the choice is often between virtual care and no care at
all.
Family coordination. Adult children helping manage aging parents' healthcare
can join virtual visits from anywhere in the country, enabling real-time
medical decision-making that in-person appointments make difficult.
Reduced illness exposure. Older adults with chronic conditions benefit
from avoiding seasonal respiratory illnesses that circulate in waiting rooms
during flu, RSV, and COVID peaks.
Medication reconciliation. Virtual visits allow providers to see actual
pill bottles rather than relying on patient recall, improving medication safety
for seniors who often take multiple prescriptions.
Technology comfort. When platforms are simple and providers are patient,
older adults use telemedicine successfully at rates matching or exceeding
younger patients.
Federal policy stability. Congress preserved Medicare telehealth
flexibilities through December 31, 2027, removing the regulatory uncertainty
that previously limited senior adoption.
What Nevada Seniors Actually Use Telemedicine For
The clinical scope of senior telemedicine use extends far
beyond acute concerns. Common uses include:
• Chronic disease management for hypertension,
diabetes, thyroid disorders, cholesterol, and cardiovascular conditions
• Medicare annual wellness visits
• Medication management and reconciliation
• Mental health support for anxiety,
depression, grief, adjustment concerns, and sleep issues
• Post-hospitalization transitional care
• Coordination of specialist referrals
• Cognitive concern evaluation and appropriate
referral
• Fall risk assessment and prevention
counseling
• Preventive care and cancer screening
coordination
• Hormone management and endocrine support
• Acute illness treatment
• Prescription refills for stable chronic medications
For Nevada seniors, this scope covers the substantial
majority of ongoing primary care needs.
Statement From Nika Asistio, APRN, FNP-C
"The assumption that older adults can't or won't use
telemedicine has been thoroughly disproven by what's actually happening in
Nevada and across the country," said Nika Asistio, APRN, FNP-C, founder of
PRISM Medical Care. "Seniors have become the fastest-growing user group
because virtual care solves the specific access problems they face daily. They
don't want to drive across town for a 15-minute appointment. They don't want to
sit in waiting rooms exposed to seasonal viruses. They want their adult
children to be able to join visits. They want the same provider every time who
knows their history. They want their medications managed thoughtfully. Virtual
primary care delivers all of this better than the traditional system has been
able to."
"What matters now is making sure Nevada seniors have
access to comprehensive virtual care rather than transactional
telehealth," Asistio continued. "Seniors typically manage multiple
chronic conditions, take several medications, and need integrated care that
considers the whole picture. Single-issue prescription platforms can't deliver
that. Comprehensive virtual primary care with same-provider continuity, honest
scope boundaries, and coordination with specialists when appropriate is what
Nevada seniors genuinely need. That's exactly what PRISM Medical Care is built
to provide."
How PRISM Medical Care Serves Nevada Seniors
PRISM Medical Care has built its practice around the
specific needs of Nevada's growing senior population:
• Medicare accepted for eligible services
• Transparent self-pay pricing ($150 initial,
$100 follow-up, $75 focused follow-up) for care outside insurance coverage
• Most patients seen within 24 to 48 hours
• Same nurse practitioner every visit
• Seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. by
appointment
• Integrated primary care covering chronic
disease, mental health, medication management, and preventive care
• Family members welcome to join appointments
• HIPAA-compliant Tebra platform
• Statewide coverage including every rural
county
• Comprehensive care coordination with specialists when appropriate
Honest Scope
Responsible virtual care includes honest scope. Severe
psychiatric conditions, dementia requiring specialist management, procedures
requiring in-person evaluation, imaging studies, vaccinations, and emergency
medical situations require different pathways. PRISM coordinates referrals to
specialists and in-person providers when appropriate, serving as the primary
care coordinator throughout.
For any patient experiencing a medical emergency, call
911. For mental health crisis, call or text 988.
Practical Guidance for Families
Adult children helping coordinate aging parents' care can
play a direct role in supporting virtual care adoption:
• Help with initial technology setup and first
appointment logistics
• Join appointments remotely to assist with
medical decision-making
• Coordinate medication lists and medical
history documentation
• Support follow-through on treatment plans and
specialist referrals
• Communicate with the provider about concerns observed between visits
For families managing aging parents at a distance, this
level of coordinated virtual care can be genuinely transformative.
About Nika Asistio, APRN, FNP-C
Nika Asistio is the founder of PRISM Medical Care and a
board-certified family nurse practitioner with over 11 years of clinical
experience spanning emergency medicine, critical care, primary care, urgent
care, and clinical research. Her cross-disciplinary background provides the
diagnostic breadth and clinical judgment required for high-quality virtual
primary care. As a family nurse practitioner, her training covers patient care
across the lifespan. She is also a mother of two, bringing practical
familiarity to family healthcare alongside her clinical expertise.
About PRISM Medical Care
PRISM Medical Care is a Nevada-based virtual primary care
practice delivering evidence-based, nurse-practitioner-led telehealth to
patients across the state. The practice operates with transparent self-pay
pricing, accepts Medicare, provides same-week appointment availability, and
treats family members ages 3 and older through secure, HIPAA-compliant virtual
visits.
Learn more or book a visit: https://prismmedicalcare.com
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