myVirtualCare Access: House Calls for a New Generation

It’s hard to overstate the importance of primary care physicians in making healthcare work. They are there for patients before conditions become problems, administering preventive medicine through tests and screenings, vaccinations, advice for healthier living, and much more. But what happens if patients never go to see their primary care doctors? What if they don’t have a doctor at all?


 
It’s not a “what if.” According to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s research, fully 26 percent of all adults don’t have a primary care physician[1]. That number spikes up to 45 percent for 18 to 29-year-olds. That’s nearly half of the population going without the foundation of care provided by PCPs during a time when many chronic and acute illnesses may be first appearing.
 
So, how do we get members to engage with their PCP benefits, particularly among younger populations? The answer may be telemedicine.
 

Benefits of Engagement

Recent history has demonstrated that members are enthusiastic about utilizing their health benefits through telemedicine for urgent and after-hours care. All indications point towards this trend continuing even after pandemic conditions have relaxed. So, working in conjunction with our partners at Teladoc, we have a new “virtual-first” option which takes the convenience of telehealth and adds the consistency and value of primary physician care.
 
Members are now able to select a PCP and maintain an ongoing relationship with the provider, building the sort of trust and rapport that has long been the backbone and value of doctor-patient interactions. But now that level of care and communication is available at the touch of a button, bringing house calls into the 21^st century.
 
As members increase their engagement with their primary doctors, it’s good news for both members and employers through preventive medicine. According to research from the Oregon Health Authority, each $1 increase in preventive medicine leads to $13 of savings in other areas. The benefits to members’ quality of life, on the other hand, can be both immeasurable and more difficult to quantify.
 

Healthy Dose of Technology

We are on the ground floor for this incredible technology, and new opportunities are still presenting themselves for utilization. Virtual-first care brings increased access to “provider deserts,” and to areas where providers are exiting the profession. While it isn’t unheard of for traditional provider offices to be booked up six weeks in advance, our clients who utilize Teladoc have found the average wait time for a PCP visit is around seven days[2].
 
And that visit is just the beginning of the myVirtualCare Access plan. Once members are steered to their PCP for care, Teladoc coordinates further treatment through the care team, offers concierge service, and schedules follow-up visits to make sure members continue their valuable care. The plan also includes virtual access to behavioral care, dermatology, nutritional assistance, musculo-skeletal care, and hypertension, with more specialties planned.
 
Through this robust offering, Teladoc is helping patients and providers develop longitudinal relationships, laying the foundation for healthier lives and better outcomes down the line. For more information on how you or your clients can benefit from this revolutionary new model, connect with us today.