VirtuAlly Wins Gold in the 2026 Merit Awards for Healthcare

Recognition highlights the clinical rigor and measurable outcomes of VirtuAlly's virtual clinical care model

CHARLESTON, S.C., Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- VirtuAlly, the virtual clinical care team built to extend the capabilities of bedside nurses, today announced it has won Gold in the Telemedicine category of the 2026 Merit Awards for Healthcare.

Merit Awards honor the organizations and leaders driving meaningful progress across the healthcare industry. Gold, Silver, and Bronze honors were awarded in each category based on innovation, measurable impact, and contribution to the healthcare community. The independent program is judged by industry executives, members of the media, and consultants.

"Every health system we talk to is asking the same question: how do we give bedside nurses more support without adding headcount or risk?" said Joe Wechsler, CEO of VirtuAlly. "This recognition belongs to our clinicians. They show up for every shift as part of the care team, and they deliver results our customers can measure."

"This year's winners show how quickly healthcare is changing, from AI-driven clinical tools to new models for virtual care and benefits," said Marie Zander, executive director of Merit Awards. "Each of these organizations is solving real problems for patients, providers, and payers, and we're proud to recognize the teams behind that work."

Health systems face persistent nursing shortages, rising patient acuity, clinician burnout, and pressure to expand capacity while protecting quality and safety. VirtuAlly was selected for its model of embedding experienced virtual clinicians directly into the care team, working within the technology and workflows hospitals already use. Virtual nurses take on appropriate responsibilities so onsite clinicians can spend more time on hands-on patient care.

VirtuAlly continues to expand how hospitals access that support. Its Global Command Center model delivers 24/7 telesitting coverage, giving health systems a way to scale patient observation as demand grows without adding strain on bedside teams.

"Virtual nursing works when bedside nurses trust it," said Angel Bozard, chief nursing officer at VirtuAlly. "We build every program with frontline nurses and around their workflows, so the time we give back goes straight to patients."

VirtuAlly is among the first virtual nursing organizations to achieve Joint Commission Accreditation. Its clinicians, all employed by VirtuAlly, work alongside bedside teams around the clock at hospitals and health systems across the country.

Earlier this year, the company debuted on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies.

To schedule a meeting with VirtuAlly, visit virtually.io/schedule-a-meeting.

About VirtuAlly

VirtuAlly is the virtual clinical care team built to extend the capabilities of bedside nurses, strengthen patient safety, and deliver outcomes that health systems can measure. Born out of the Medical University of South Carolina, one of only two federally recognized Telehealth Centers of Excellence in the country, VirtuAlly is among the first virtual nursing organizations to achieve Joint Commission Accreditation. That standing reflects a standard of clinical rigor built into every service we deliver. Our 24/7 services include virtual nursing, telesitting, telemetry monitoring, and clinical intelligence, giving frontline teams the experienced clinical backup they need to care for patients and support bedside nurses. We partner with leading technology platforms to bring virtual care into the systems and workflows hospitals already use, so care teams get support without added complexity. Hospitals and health systems across the country rely on VirtuAlly to meet the real demands of today's care environment. Learn more at virtually.io.

About Merit Awards

Merit Awards recognizes excellence and innovation across healthcare, technology and business. The program celebrates organizations and individuals whose work delivers measurable impact in their industries, with entries judged by a panel of industry executives, members of the media and consultants. Learn more at www.merit-awards.com.

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SOURCE VirtuAlly