Digital technology has been on the rise, and it has affected all aspects of our lives. Telehealth is an area that has expanded recently, especially with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth or telemedicine allows patients to meet with their doctors for a consultation via phone call or video chat.
Teladoc Health, the United States’ largest telemedicine software provider, reported 2.8 million virtual visits during Q2 of 2020. That number is over three times higher than 2019’s total. Experts expect the use of telehealth to remain high even after the pandemic subsides.
Elevanta Health offers Teladoc to its program members. Read on to learn just a few of the reasons to consider taking your doctors’ visits virtual with Teladoc and how Elevanta Health can help.
- Accessible Anywhere, Anytime
Because of its format, telehealth appointments are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A Teladoc appointment can be scheduled around work or school and take place from anywhere. Patients can choose to access the platform through phone call, video or mobile app.
The various platforms allow for easy access from anywhere that the patient has cell service or internet access and can attend an appointment at any time of the day.
- Reduce Risk of Illness
Throughout the pandemic, many groups of people who have been labeled as “high risk,” those who are elderly or suffer with chronic illness, have been advised to stay home to avoid contracting the virus.
This risk can be eliminated by using telemedicine. Patients can consult a board-certified medical professional about their conditions without potentially exposing themselves to the coronavirus. In the future when the virus is controlled, telemedicine will still be beneficial to those with weakened immune systems.
“Everything that is accessible in an in-person visit is accessible in a telemedicine visit,” said Dr. Gregory Esper, professor and vice chairman of Emory University’s department of neurology, in a CNN interview. “The university has also implemented systemwide capabilities for image capture, asking the patients to upload their MRIs or prior scans, or we can obtain those from partner organizations that have electronic connections with us.”
- Low Cost
On Aug. 3, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will expand access to telehealth benefits to Medicare beneficiaries beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. This expansion will make telehealth accessible for more people across the country at little to no cost, and in turn, more doctors will hopefully consider implementing virtual offerings in their practices.
Patients will save both time and money by using telemedicine – they can avoid using gas, sitting in the waiting room, taking time off work and potentially even dodge a co-pay.
For those on Elevanta Health’s Major Medical plan, Teladoc is included at no additional monthly cost, co-pay or consultation fee. For those that are on a Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) plan, the employer can choose to offer the program for a small fee.
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Teladoc, offered through Elevanta Health, provides access 24 hours a day, seven days a week to a U.S. board-certified doctor through the convenience of phone, video or mobile app. Contact Elevanta Health today at 678-540-6203 or memberservices@elevanta.com to learn more.
