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We know how important a decision like this can be and that is why we have a dedicated team standing by to answer your questions. Our goal is to educate you, which will allow you to make an informed decision for your family, your organization or your clients.
General Inquiries
Groups/Employers
Telemedicine Benefits for Employers
Telemedicine is capturing a lot of attention from employers recently, and with good reason. Medical costs are expected to continue to trend upward in the near future; PricewaterhouseCoopers Health Research Institute projects an increase of 6.5% in 2014. More employers are also implementing consumer-driven healthcare plans (CDHPs), which increase out-of-pocket medical expenses for plan participants. The rise in CDHP use is prompting both employers and employees to look for ways to offset out-of-pocket costs. An overlooked solution is Telemedicine, which is changing the way people seek and get medical advice, diagnoses and prescriptions.
While Telemedicine has been around in one way shape or form for a long time, advances in communication technologies and the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) focus on efficient and cost-effective care have helped reshape this approach to healthcare delivery. Telemedicine has come a long way from connecting patients in far-off places with a doctor possessing a particular expertise. Today, Telemedicine puts a subscriber (i.e., an employee) in touch with a U.S. board-certified physician in their state to treat common ailments such as colds and flu, sinus infections, allergies, pink eye, etc. Telemedicine gives the patient direct access to a doctor 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. The consultation can take place by a phone call, email or a web-based video call, and may include discussing symptoms, treatment options and prescriptions. Telemedicine consultations are a supplement for non-emergency treatment and visits to a primary care physician. And best of all, Telemedicine helps make healthcare affordable.
What’s the advantage for employers?
Including Telemedicine as a part of an overall portfolio of group employee benefits has become an important healthcare cost containment tool. Telemedicine reduces office co-pays for employees and claim costs to the employer’s group healthcare plan. In a study of 17,000 telemedicine participants, hospital admissions dropped by 30% and doctor visits were reduced by 60% for a savings of 45% in unnecessary doctor and emergency room visits.
The American Medical Association (AMA) states that 70% of doctor’s office visits can be handled over the phone and 50% of ER visits are non-emergencies. Telemedicine’s savings in claim costs range from $300 per year for a single employee or more than $1,000 per year for a family of four.
Multiple Cost Savings
Cost Containment
Telemedicine costs less than a co-pay. Re-directing unnecessary visits can reduce healthcare costs by up to 25%
Productivity
Telemedicine gives patients easy access to a physician, reducing the risk that medical problems become chronic.
Flexible Implementation
Telemedicine can be implemented anytime of the year with minimal hassle. There are no waiting periods or exclusions.
Colleges/Institutions
Telemedicine Benefits for Schools
We know that every educational institution takes the health of its students seriously. We also know that they are constantly looking for ways to provide added value for those students. Providing telemedicine services accomplishes both goals. In the case of colleges and universities, imagine being able to provide students, who live on campus and those learning remotely, with health services at any time.Telemedicine puts a subscriber (i.e., a student) in touch with a U.S. board-certified physician in their state to treat common ailments such as colds and flu, sinus infections, allergies, pink eye, etc. Telemedicine gives students direct access to a doctor 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. The consultation can take place by a phone call, email or a web-based video call, and may include discussing symptoms, treatment options and prescriptions. Telemedicine consultations are a supplement for non-emergency treatment and visits to a primary care physician. And best of all, Telemedicine helps make healthcare affordable.
What’s the advantage for schools?
Including myURGENCYMD’s telemedicine as a part of colleges’ and universities’ services will:
- Allow students taking classes remotely to access student health services at any time.
- Provide campus students with non-emergency medical services outside of the student health center’s office hours. This includes early mornings, evenings and weekends.
- Increase the number of students who can be treated.
- Allow schools to further implement COVID-19 precautions. A telemedicine option can reduce the number of students in the waiting areas of student health centers, which also reduces the possibility of spreading communicable illnesses.
- Provide students with no health coverage access to a medical professional they can take wherever they go.
We also have packages that allow educational institutions to offer telemedicine services to thousands of students at affordable prices.