What are telemedicine benefits?
Telemedicine is a virtual doctor’s appointment that uses two-way communication with a healthcare professional. It typically takes place via videoconferencing technology. Many service providers offer 24/7 care.
With telemedicine, healthcare providers can diagnose certain medical conditions and prescribe medications when needed, all without the patient leaving home.
Reasons to offer telemedicine benefits to your team
Here are some reasons to consider adding telemedicine options to your benefits package.
Increased employee happiness and satisfaction
Virtual care could help increase employee happiness and satisfaction in a number of ways, such as:
- Flexibility: Being able to see a doctor virtually provides increased flexibility for employees. They can see a doctor without leaving work or fit appointments around their work schedules. Offering traditional and virtual care allows employees to choose the healthcare option they prefer.
- Inclusion: Telemedicine enables employees to access healthcare on their own terms, regardless of their location, mobility limitations or scheduling constraints.
- Support: Extras such as telemedicine help your team feel fairly compensated for their work. You can often balance wages with benefits to create an appealing package that keeps your employees happy.
Virtual care makes it easier for employees to stay healthy and recover from illnesses quickly. When they’re healthy, they may feel more energized at work and have to take fewer sick days. In turn, this can help with their productivity and engagement.
Supporting work-life balance
Work-life balance means your employees can efficiently balance their personal and professional responsibilities. It can be difficult for employees to satisfy their work duties and take care of their families, especially when someone is sick. Telemedicine gives individuals more flexibility in how they receive care, allowing them to balance work duties with medical care.
Faster healthcare access
Patients typically receive care faster through virtual appointments. Round-the-clock access provides compatible time slots and more of them, which often results in a shorter wait time. The appointments are typically faster, since they eliminate the commute time and waiting room periods.
Receiving faster medical care gets your employees on the road to recovery sooner. Telemedicine could cut down on how much time off an employee needs to manage medical conditions. Quick access to prescriptions may also speed up the recovery process.
Healthy team
When employees receive quality medical care, it can improve their mental and physical health. Healthy employees often miss less work and perform better on-the-job.
Choosing a telemedicine provider
Here are some things to consider when choosing a telemedicine provider::
- Cost: Look at the cost to you and your employees when they utilize the service. Evaluating the pricing helps you determine if the service fits your budget. Providers often calculate customized pricing based on the size of your organization.
- Security: Privacy and security are essential in health care. Ask about security measures the company takes, including encryption, to protect your employees’ private information.
- Utilization rates: This helps you get an idea of the quality of the service and how many of your employees might use the virtual care options to determine if it’s a good investment.
- Services: Look at the types of medical care and the availability of care providers. Verify their qualifications to ensure reliable, high-quality care.
- Support: When you’re starting with a new telemedicine provider, being able to access support readily makes the transition easier. You may also need ongoing support when enrolling new employees or correcting issues if an employee can’t access the service. Ask about the customer support options, including the hours of availability and contact methods.
- Ease of use: If the platform is easy to use, your staff is more likely to schedule virtual appointments. Check for a product demo to understand how it works. Consider compatibility with different types of devices so users can engage in ways that make them feel comfortable.
FAQs about telemedicine benefits
Are there disadvantages to offering telemedicine benefits?
Providing a telemedicine service to your employees adds to your benefits costs. If your employees don’t utilize the service often, it might not be money well spent. Some health conditions might not be compatible with virtual care. If an employee utilizes the telemedicine benefit, they might still have to schedule an in-person visit, which could increase their costs and takes more time.
How do you encourage your employees to take advantage of telemedicine benefits?
Ensure your employees know about the perk. When you onboard an employee, go through all the options you offer, including access to virtual medical appointments. Periodically mention its availability throughout the year. Reminding employees about the program regularly and highlighting how it helps them can encourage higher participation.
