As a known fact, medical professionals may easily assess, diagnose, and treat patients via telemedicine, a well-liked method of care delivery, without requiring to see them in person. Telemedicine is defined by the National Library of Medicine as “the delivery of medical care and provision of general health services from a distance.”

This article exposes the facts and trends of telemedicine, a thriving medication provider that is assisting and has become an asset in enhancing employee wellness programs.

The market for telemedicine worldwide is increasing. In 2022, 38% of healthcare consumers in the US received care through telehealth, according to the report. Telemedicine has established itself as one of the fundamental medical services after the outbreak era.

Here is a detailed view of Statistical representations and Trends of Telemedicine:

Statistic representations:

• According to telehealth representations from McKinsey & Company, telehealth is used for 13% to 17% of patient visits in the United States across all disciplines.
  
• If stats are taken globally, More than 60% of customers from Germany, Japan, and the US asserted they feel at ease with the thought of receiving medical treatment from an expert via virtual technology.
  
• According to the November 2022 study’s findings, over 90% of Americans used telehealth services in the previous year, and 90% of them said they had a productive time. Doctors’ appointments, teledentistry, and vision appointments were a few of these services.
  
• Across the entire research period, telehealth use rates ranged between 20.5% and 24.2%, with an average of 22.0% of people reporting use in the previous four weeks. 
  
• The smallest incidences of telehealth use were observed among uninsured individuals (9.4%), adolescents (18–24) (17.6%), and Midwest (18.7%).
  
• Furthermore, 71% of consumers used their smartphones to access telehealth. According to the respondents, watching television is how they like to use telehealth. The simplicity of utilizing the television for telehealth is preferred, especially by older persons, according to a poll of American seniors over 70 that was conducted last year and paid for by Independa.
  

Based on Nationwide Survey:

A Nationwide survey reported a few observations about the usage of Telemedicine:-

• The three main purposes for which people employ telehealth are:

1. Routine primary care checks 
2. Ongoing illness evaluation
3. Sickness Rehabilitation Monitoring

• The three main benefits of telehealth over in-person care are:

1. Comfort and Convenience
2. Shorter commute time
3. Speed of Service.

• 95% of those surveyed said they would substitute their doctors if they offered telemedicine.
  

Benefits of Virtual Healthcare for Employee well-being:

Employers and employees both gain from telehealth services; it’s an equitable arrangement. Employees have access to the care they require, frequently for less money and with less waiting time. Aside from the HR advantages that result from better retention and recruiting, as well as generally having a healthier, more productive staff, these services are also typically less expensive for firms to sponsor. These beneficial results apply to 24/7, standalone, remote, hybrid, and multifaceted job styles!

Consumers with employer-provided insurance said they would be willing to benefit from telehealth in place of a face-to-face appointment in 49 percent of cases. 

As per the survey conducted by PwC Health Research Institute, here  here are some of the percentage figures where the services employees/consumers are willing to use telehealth:

• 62% of people are willing to have their physical health or illness continually assessed.
• 43% of people are willing to have a physical condition or illness initially assessed.
• 27% are open to receiving help for mental or behavioral health.
• 25% are ready for receiving urgent care in emergencies.

According to an HHS report, the pandemic saw a 63-fold rise in the use of Medicare telehealth. Private health insurance has also boosted their use of telehealth. According to the KFF 2021 Employer Health Benefits Survey, 95% of businesses that provided health benefits and had a minimum of 50 employees in 2021 also provided telemedicine perks. Only 85% of these firms served telemedicine assistance in 2020, compared to 67% just three years earlier.

Addition of Telehealth Process to Employee Benefits:

Digital Health and Wellness has become a trend and tending towards success because of busy lifestyles. Adding Telemedicine to Employee Wellness Program can be very beneficial. Although it will not soon replace  in-person healthcare solutions, telemedicine can still be a useful adjunct.

In the past few years, numerous individuals have explored telehealth, and a majority of them prefer the choice and wish to keep utilizing it. According to McKinsey & Company, 60% of those who took the survey choose telehealth because it seems more accessible than receiving care in person, and 40% want to use it following the epidemic. Furthermore, 63% are intrigued by larger digital health solutions, such as online appointments and health plans that are primarily virtual.

Wrapping Note:

In conclusion, corporate wellness programs include employee well-being as a component. According to studies, it is obvious that organizations are using telemedicine more frequently due to its advantages. Employers, therefore, place a high value on employee health, and as such, requiring and encouraging employees to use the Telemedicine system is advantageous to both.