Should Telemedicine Be a Benefit for Your Employees

Should Telemedicine Be a Benefit for Your EmployeesCredit Guschenkova/Shutterstock Healthcare costs for employers are expected to rise nearly 6.5 percent in 2018, according to a study by PwCs Health Research Institute. As such, employers everywhere have tried to reduce their costs through different means, including offering employees high deductible plans and cutting back on other health-related benefits.High deductible planssave employers money and give employees mora back in their paycheck but arent as comprehensive when it comes to paying for major medical expenses. If you struggle with providing your team with comprehensive health coverage, telehealth or telemedicine is an avenue to supplement basic coverage and support their well-being.Telemedicine connects patients with doctors through a phone call, video chat (or text chats), on the computer, or a mobile app. Doctors are readily available and can help with a wide range of minor health issues. Depen ding on which state theyre practicing in, they can prescribe non-narcotic medication to patients through the platform, such as antibiotics. A number of platforms also have mental health providers for therapy and substance abuse help as well as dermatology professionals. Read related article from our sister site, geschftlicher umgang.com Best Telemedicine SoftwareFortunately, many health plans already offer an added telemedicine feature. Insurance companies generally encourage the use of telemedicine because it also reduces costs for them. Even if your plan doesnt include telemedicine, you should consider adding it to your benefits package.Benefits of telemedicineCost Savings Urgent care or emergency room visits are expensive and often unnecessary if individuals have quick access to a doctor who can diagnosis minor issues. Typical costs for a trip to the emergency room can range from $1,000 to $3,000, depending on the issue and treatment. Urgent care visits are significantly less cos tly but are still more expensive than a telemedicine appointment, which costs about $100 per visit.Editors musiknote Interested in telemedicine software? Use the questionnaire below toget quickly connected to our vendor partners to learn more about options for your business.Time savings Telemedicine visits are big time-savers. Many platforms can connect patients to a doctor fast, sometimes within minutes of submitting your request. Being able to speak with a physician so quickly not only saves patients from having to schedule appointments weeks ahead, they dont have to schedule time off from work. Further, the sooner a patient consults with a doctor, the faster they can get a diagnosis and, in some cases, prevent certain types of illnesses before they worsen, saving both time and money for you and your employee.More choices Depending on your location, the availability of doctors, and the limits of your insurance network, you and your employees may not have an ample selection of heal thcare professionals. Telemedicine platforms give you access to dozens of experts who are part of the service. Its especially beneficial for those who live in rural communities who, in addition to taking time off from work, must travel further to get the care they need.Private issues Another added benefit to telemedicine is that it may be more comfortable for patients to speak with a healthcare provider about sensitive, private issues. For individuals seeking counseling, it can be intimidating to seek help in-person, whereas with telemedicine, the patient is more in control of the conversation and can use instant messaging to talk with a professional.Before you sign upA telemedicine doctor is not a replacement for a patients primary care physician. Virtual doctors are equipped to handle minor issues only, such as allergies, cold, fever, pink eye, sinusitis, sore throat, among other minor conditions.If a telemedicine doctor cant confidently diagnose a patients condition, they will li kely recommend the patient see their primary care doctor or visit urgent care. This can be more expensive, but anytime an individual thinks their illness is more than a minor issue, they should seek an in-person consultation with a healthcare provider.Telemedicine works best when its used as a preventative measure against serious illness therefore, encourage your staff to use it as such and stay health-conscious, especially if your health plan isnt as comprehensive as youd like. Andreas Rivera Andreas Rivera graduated from the University of Utah with a B.A. in Mass Communication and is now a staff writer for geschftsleben.com and Business News Daily. His background in journalism brings a critical eye to his reviews and features, helping business leaders make the best decisions for their companies. 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