Virtual Reality In Healthcare
Healthcare was already at the forefront of American concern before the COVID-19 outbreak catapulted personal wellness and employee safety into daily headlines. In a 2019 Gallup survey, 55 percent of respondents said they were “very concerned” about growing healthcare prices and availability, making it the issue’s fifth straight year at the top of this yearly list.
As a result of huge layoffs, nearly 15 million individuals lost their medical coverage in 2020, raising worries. Furthermore, due to shelter-in-place orders, fear of getting the virus, and overburdened service providers, fewer individuals were obtaining basic medical treatment.
According to Matt McCambridge, CEO and Co-founder of Eden Health, a primary care and insurance navigation company, the year 2020 marked a tectonic shift in the way Americans accessed healthcare, not only for the reasons stated above, but also because people’s lives were no longer centered around a traditional workplace. Because medical visits are typically scheduled during the workday, McCambridge believes it’s more convenient for individuals to pick physicians who are closer to their office than to their homes.
Then commutes came to a halt, and individuals stopped seeking treatment in person.”We’ll continue to have a more spread workforce, which will necessitate a more flexible healthcare strategy,” says McCambridge. This entails providing additional alternatives for employees to obtain care when and how they like. Addressing these health concerns will result in higher employee retention, satisfaction, and productivity.
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Getting a Glimpse of the Medical Storm to Come
It’s impossible to pinpoint a single cause for the decline in care, but the figures present a bleak picture. In the first four months of the epidemic, the CDC found that 41% of Americans delayed or avoided seeking medical help. According to preliminary data published in JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, screenings for numerous prevalent kinds of cancer decreased dramatically in April 2020 compared to the previous year. Ophthalmology appointments were down 79 percent, while cardiology and pediatric visits were down more than 60 percent, according to Harvard University and healthcare technology startup Phreesia.
At least in part, employers will be responsible for mitigating the repercussions of missing medical appointments. Every firm with more than 50 workers, McCambridge argues, is in the healthcare industry whether they want to be or not, and that delayed treatments, screenings, and checks pose an obvious threat to their employees’ health and their financial line. Companies employing remote workers, according to McCambridge, must provide a suite of easy-to-use healthcare choices, including virtual care, in order to retain and encourage healthy personnel.
He responds, “We’ve got to be addressing that.” “I would advise businesses to consider how they might encourage their employees to get the treatment they require.” He adds that this may be achieved by providing an integrated strategy that includes virtual healthcare, proactive communication about your company’s health services, flexible time off for visits, and asking for feedback on what your employees want from a healthcare plan.
Why Time and Money are Saved by Easier, Better Healthcare?
Employees worry about their health. According to a 2018 poll, 56 percent of those who had employer-sponsored insurance indicated the plan played a significant impact in their decision to stay at that firm. According to a 2019 Transamerica Center for Health Studies survey, health benefits are second only to compensation in terms of total work satisfaction for 61 percent of respondents.
“Corporations need to recognize that by avoiding healthcare, which some companies want to do,” McCambridge adds, “you’re shooting yourself in the foot.” Employers who embrace their position as healthcare providers — investing in a healthcare platform that streamlines the user experience, provides a variety of care alternatives, and encourages wellness on a regular basis — save time and money for their workers. Companies benefit from reduced absenteeism and increased productivity.
A good digital health platform will collaborate with an organization’s current insurance and care providers to give workers with a one-stop shop for all of their healthcare requirements and inquiries. It eliminates the need for employees to contact their insurance company or practitioner regarding eligibility, payment, or urgent health requirements, and it allows them to receive excellent treatment electronically.
Companies who use this holistic healthcare strategy save around $800 per employee each year, according to McCambridge. What is the explanation behind this? It reduces the need of high-cost care choices including emergency rooms, specialists, and urgent care.”A lot of folks go to the emergency department because they don’t have another convenient choice for care,” he adds. “It’s really simpler for patients to go to the ER than to their primary care physician since the ER is closer to their house and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” So, by eliminating those sorts of treatments, [telemedicine] results in a huge cost decrease.”
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how will telemedicine be used in the future?
Eden Health’s growth has been fueled by their concentration on telemedicine, particularly in the last year. Companies, according to McCambridge, must provide comprehensive care choices, such as virtual care, because the workplace and healthcare are inextricably linked, especially at a time when workers are working and living online.He claims that “virtual has always been the primary method we give care.” “Virtual access becomes crucial as you go further distant.”
Telemedicine visits climbed by 154 percent in the last week of March 2020 compared to the previous year. Between mid-March and mid-April, the Mayo Clinic reported a 78 percent reduction in office visits, but video appointments increased by over 11,000 percent.
“Telemedicine as a term is a bit of a red herring in certain respects,” McCambridge explains. “Really, it’s just delivering virtual clinical services.” Doctors used to contact patients on the phone fifty years ago, so the concept of telemedicine being fundamentally different is a result of insurance companies that didn’t pay for virtual treatment in the past.”
For those businesses still on the fence about telemedicine, McCambridge points out that virtual treatment eliminates the need for employees to take time off for medical appointments. According to him, companies that standardize telemedicine throughout their whole employee base recover 16 to 20 hours of work per year per person, a figure that rises for employees with chronic health issues.
“Studies suggest that the average chronic healthcare condition requires roughly two hours of management every day,” he explains. “A significant portion of that time is spent navigating the healthcare system. This has a significant influence on work and vacation time.”McCambridge thinks that virtualization of care will continue even when the epidemic is no longer a widespread health hazard.
“More mainstream organizations — hospital systems and other primary care organizations — are going to use virtual care as part of their usual practice,” he predicts. He feels that a hybrid model — the option to seek therapy both in person and virtually — allows for the finest degree of care. Given McCambridge’s forecast of greater rates of depression and anxiety post-COVID-19, as well as the concerns compounded by delayed screens and therapies, it’s an extremely important model.
What Companies Should Consider Right Now
In light of the global health crisis, many businesses made workplace safety a priority in 2020, and McCambridge expects this trend to continue in the next year.
“Yes, managing the worldwide epidemic has been really difficult, but at this point, we essentially know what needs to happen,” he adds. “You must be able to track the health of your population to ensure that infectious diseases such as COVID-19 are not transmitted, and you must ensure that all of your personnel are aware of how to obtain a vaccination.”
The most important step, he argues, is to try to anticipate the healthcare requirements of your ever-changing staff in the future year, since some people will continue to work from home while others will return to the office.All that is required is for leaders to rise to the occasion.”Not having access to the treatment they need is a great disservice,” McCambridge adds, because employees are financially, physically, and emotionally exposed when their employers handle their health. “It puts people in an awkward situation.”
We can all agree that good health makes for a better workplace, whether virtual, in person, or hybrid. The future of telemedicine is today, and with a pandemic on the horizon, there has never been a better time for businesses to reimagine and simplify one of the most significant perks in the workplace, and it all starts with choice.
Advantages of Telemedicine for Patients
There is no wait time or expense for transportation.
You may save money on petrol, parking, and public transit when you see your doctor via your mobile device or computer. Even better, you won’t spend time commuting or risk being stuck in a traffic congestion, which will cause you to be late for your appointment or, worse, late for work.
There’s no need to take time off work.
When it comes to work, video visits substantially eliminate the need for time off. You may easily visit over a lunch break, or before or after work. You can be wherever you want as long as you have enough privacy. You don’t have to miss a day of work or waste your valuable paid vacation time if you follow your doctor’s follow-up advice.
Remove any difficulties with kid or elder care.
Many of us are responsible for the care of youngsters or the elderly. It might be difficult and expensive to find alternate treatment so that you can see a doctor. It might be difficult or impractical to bring them along. Fortunately, telemedicine overcomes this problem by allowing you to see your doctor while still taking care of your family.
Options that are available on demand
These days, an increasing number of physician offices provide telemedicine, so there’s a strong possibility you’ll be able to visit your usual doctor by video. There are a variety of online-only, on-demand choices on the market now if you can’t yet still require distant access to care. They can’t treat every ailment, but they can deal with a wide range of issues. This form of care is covered by some insurance carriers.
Specialists are available.
Some patients who require expert treatment must travel considerable distances and devote a significant amount of time to each appointment. Telemedicine allows you and your primary care physician to benefit from the experience of experts who are not in your immediate area. You want to speak with the finest, not the nearest, when it comes to significant health concerns.
There’s a Lower Chance of Contracting a New Illness
Where can you be certain of finding a large number of ill people? Of course, in the doctor’s office. While everyone makes every effort to keep one patient from contracting a disease from another, it is always possible, especially in busy waiting rooms. Staying at home allows you to obtain the treatment you need while avoiding exposure and the danger of spreading your sickness to others.
Time spent in the waiting room is reduced.
If you choose for a video appointment using telemedicine technology, you’ll save time in the doctor’s office by not having to peruse through old magazines. Even if you don’t use telemedicine, finding a clinic that does will cut down on your waiting time by allowing other patients to be treated from the comfort of their own homes.
Improved Health
You can better manage your medicine, lifestyle, and other chronic diseases you may have if you can visit your doctor as frequently as you need to without the hassles of getting into the office.
It’s no surprise that individuals are looking for healthcare providers that can deliver telehealth ease and cost savings. It’s on track to have a significant beneficial influence on the overall healthcare system, and it’s ready to make your life a little simpler.
FAQ Section
What is a virtual doctor’s appointment and how does it work?
A patient can meet remotely with a medical practitioner during a distant visit via online video calls, which most people identify with telehealth. Phone calls and text messages are examples of virtual care. A physician may still conduct a comprehensive medical history, examine a patient’s appearance, and even coach a patient through some components of a physical exam during a remote session. The ability to assess a patient’s home environment and connection with live-in family members is an added benefit.
Is virtual healthcare technology simple to use?
Many virtual care systems are built with a simple, user-friendly patient interface in mind. Some allow clinicians to contact with patients by video, phone, chat, or email, allowing them to pick from a variety of alternatives based on the patient’s preferences, requirements, and capacity.
Furthermore, the virtual visit setup should be as easy and uncomplicated as feasible. Patients may connect without having to download applications or create passwords when they use a communication solution that includes a single safe browser.
Is it safe and secure for me to visit the virtual world?
Patients have every reason to be worried about how their personal data will be handled, preserved, and used. Over 93 percent of healthcare institutions have suffered data breaches in the last three years, and about 10% of patients’ medical records have been exposed. Any new telemedicine solutions must fulfill the strictest privacy, safety, and security requirements.
In conclusion, being unwell at this time of year may be frightening for many individuals. Virtual care (or telehealth) offers a solution that may adapt securely to maintain continuity of care despite unexpected advancements and everyday pressures with the correct implementation. And it’s a solution with the potential to have a long-term impact. Virtual care facilitates the development of trustworthy connections between patients and clinicians, allowing underlying reasons to be uncovered and people to take greater control of their health objectives. It’s a recipe for better health — and better health implies happier, healthier, and more productive workers.
