Three (3) reasons why every business must offer telemedicine in Nigeria
Telemedicine’s acceptance was pushed by the COVID-19 epidemic, and now virtual care services are a crucial component of every employer’s benefits package.
Employees can connect with a board-certified, licenced physician remotely through phone or video thanks to telemedicine. This employment perk is now one that the workforce takes for granted because to COVID-19. Telemedicine, when used effectively, reduces healthcare costs and increases worker satisfaction. Additionally, it might be helpful throughout the hiring process and employee retention.
Here are the three main advantages of telemedicine and the reasons why every employer ought to provide it.
CARE FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES
As new information regarding the Delta variant implies enhanced transmissibility, even in those who have had vaccinations, maintaining employee wellness is still of utmost importance. To keep workers healthy in year two of the global pandemic, telemedicine is still essential.
Utilizing this straightforward and practical virtual care alternative, staff members can avoid germs in crowded waiting areas, recover more quickly, and even treat their own mental health issues.
In a recent poll, 48% of parents reported that compared to before the epidemic, their level of stress has increased. Because mental health conditions can aggravate or worsen physical health conditions, employers should be concerned about the decline in mental health.
Fortunately, online counselling services allow users to contact therapists from any location, eliminating many typical barriers to receiving mental health care. Together, telemedicine and virtual mental health safeguard a workforce’s overall well-being.
FACILITATE COST-EFFECTIVE CARE
Employees gain immensely from telemedicine, but the employer also benefits because diverted healthcare claims cost less money.
How? By making it possible for workers to connect with a doctor from their home or place of business for little to no cost, hence avoiding the need to visit an urgent care facility or the ER for non-emergency conditions.
According to statistics, Americans expended $30 billion (or $92 per person in the U.S.) annually by visiting the emergency room for ailments that may be addressed elsewhere. Furthermore, two-thirds of ER visits are preventable.
Employees who use telemedicine save money on high copayments, which can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars in emergency rooms. This benefit can put actual money back in the pockets of employees, particularly those with high deductible health plans (HDHPs).
Employers, particularly those that are self-insured, that experience a decrease in overall healthcare claims, can realise even greater savings as a result of these averted visits. In fact, if the programme is properly implemented, the healthcare savings ought to equal or surpass the price of the telemedicine service.
OFFER A COMPETITIVE BENEFITS PACKAGE
Employers and employees who would prefer work remotely are increasingly at odds over topics like returning to the workplace and vaccine talk. 87 percent of American professionals who have been working remotely throughout the pandemic would prefer to continue doing so at least one day per week, according to a Morning Consult survey of 2,000 respondents (post-pandemic). Employers are concentrating on keeping their best employees because there are more chances to work remotely from anywhere in the world.
Employers can differentiate themselves with a fantastic benefits package. Companies who provide telemedicine with free access to treatment and a convenient experience can stand out in the job market because this benefit demonstrates their concern for their employees.
Employers may want to think of encouraging staff to use virtual care as a way to keep them by giving them back time.
In order to achieve the desired utilisation, engagement, and savings, employers must make sure they have a telemedicine solution. Read our Guide to Telemedicine to discover more about current telemedicine alternatives, the virtual care sector, and best practises to find the best provider.
