We’ve discussed it before, and we’re here to discuss it again – telehealth. The COVID-19 pandemic transformed our lives in ways we never knew were possible. From working remotely to completely separating ourselves from everyone, it was undoubtedly a shock to our systems. While the pandemic negatively affected our everyday lives, it certainly had a handful of positives. While telehealth was a thing of the past, it became more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic when we were all stuck at home. Continue reading to learn its benefits for business owners and their employees.
What Is Telehealth?
Telehealth, often referred to as telemedicine, allows your health care provider to care for you without an in-person office visit. You can talk to your health care provider live without having to leave your house, send and receive messages, and use remote monitoring so your health care provider can check on you at home.
There is a variety of specialized care you can receive through telehealth, including the following:
- Lab test or x-ray results
- Mental health treatment, including online therapy, counseling, and medication management
- Recurring conditions such as migraines or urinary tract infections
- Skin conditions
- Prescription management
- Urgent care issues such as colds, coughs, and stomach aches
- Post-surgical follow-up
- Treatment and follow-up appointments for attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Physical therapy and occupational therapy
- Remote monitoring services that help you track your health goals and manage chronic conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol
Telehealth continues to be one of the fastest-growing trends after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, nearly four in 10 American adults (39%) have now utilized remote health care services, representing an exponential growth from 2019.
Let’s Take A Deep Dive Into What This Means For Employers
Employees are looking for benefits that reflect their culture and values. You can see this throughout the Great Resignation when 43% of employees quit their jobs and left for better benefits. The following are the benefits of providing your employees with access to telehealth which can promote equity and make for a more inclusive benefits environment:
- Provider diversity options
- Accessibility and convenience
- Safety
- Affordability – saves employees money
- Offers speedy access to care
- Supports mental well-being
- Provides competitive advantage
- Enhances productivity and performance
A significant part of retaining a productive and diverse workforce is ensuring your employees feel appreciated and cared for. Providing this benefit to your employees allows them to communicate with health professionals without visiting a doctor’s office.
Telehealth also means saving you time and money. Employers can reduce costs and cut down on missed work related to health issues. Ultimately, telemedicine helps employers in lowering the expense of their health care plans. A study by the Jefferson Health System dictated that each avoided emergency department visit accumulated cost savings ranging from $309 to more than $1,500. Telehealth visits cost, on average, $79 compared to $146 for a doctor’s visit and $1,734 for an emergency room visit.
GMS Can Help
Looking at the advantages telehealth provides your employees, and your business is a no-brainer. Telehealth is a benefit you should begin offering to your employees. Group Management Services (GMS) provides your employees with 24/7 access to a free doctor as part of our premier employee benefits administration service through Teladoc. The convenience of Telehealth saves you and your employees time by cutting out travel and sitting in waiting rooms. In addition, it limits the need to take time off work to fit an employee’s ailments into a doctor’s schedule and cuts out costly co-pays. At the end of the day, healthy employees are good for every business. Contact our HR experts about adding telehealth services to your business’s health plan. You’re just one click away from helping your employees stay healthy and productive.