At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency federal legislation expanded access to virtual care. But hurried implementation of telehealth to meet consumers’ needs during the pandemic led to scattershot implementation of technologies and rushed training—much of which must be readdressed across provider organizations.
An Amwell survey shows that half of physicians rely on more than one telehealth platform, while more than 20% use three or more platforms. The survey also exposed a need for physician training around how to effectively use screen-based technology to engage patients.
Health plan members who struggle with a medical challenge or are about to make a major decision in their health journey need fast access to experts who can answer their questions and provide appropriate guidance. While telehealth reduces wait times and increases speed to insight, the virtual experience typically isn’t curated with the end user in mind.
The result: Members who are confused about their benefits, uncertain of how to access the right provider, and don’t feel empowered about their healthcare.
For health plans and employers, speed to insight and the member experience are equally important, when evaluating digital offerings and identifying virtual centers of excellence.
For more information on how to evaluate virtual care offerings to ensure optimal value, with examples of next-level virtual care offerings from The Clinic by Cleveland Clinic, download our white paper.