Telemedicine isn't new, but the COVID-19 pandemic has put new emphasis on technology that can connect people with their healthcare providers quickly and easily.
Telemedicine is also a valuable tool some truckstops and travel plazas are using to help minimize health benefit costs while keeping their workforce healthy.
Heather Meade, a consultant with Ernst & Young and a leader of NATSO’s HR Share Group, said employees appreciate access to virtual care through nurse hotlines or video or phone consultations with a primary care provider. “Recent surveys suggest that 90 percent of large employers have implemented or are implementing some type of large virtual care. It is also something that makes a lot of sense for the truckstop workforce.”
Elizabeth Waring, CEO of Busy Bee, said the company provides HealthiestYou by Teledoc, which offers virtual care, to all members of its management team and it’s an option for all teammates.
“The cost is minimal for the convenience it provides, such as speaking with a doctor about an illness and receiving the care needed without having to physically go to the doctor. Our team has loved having this option,” Waring said, adding that the HealthiestYou offering is extremely affordable and can save a tremendous amount of lost time and out of pocket expenses.
Along with HeathiestYou, Busy Bee provides the Best Doctors option. If a person has a serious illness, he or she is equipped with a team of specialists that can work with the employee on the best possible treatment options. “This is a phenomenal benefit. Although I personally hope I never have to use this benefit, there is an enormous peace of mind knowing that if someone has an illness, you have the best and the brightest team of doctors working on what options and treatments are available to get you healed as quickly as possible,” Waring said.
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