Virtual Care 2.0:
Embracing the evolution to advance healthcare.
October 15, 2024
Tags
VIRTUAL CARE |
The virtual care landscape has been tumultuous in the years following COVID-19 as companies struggle or have shuttered their doors altogether. But while the landscape has changed after the 'gold rush' of the pandemic, it doesn't mean virtual care is going away.
Like everything else, virtual care has had to evolve. And those companies that fulfill rising needs and expectations, including expanded care access and interconnected, omnichannel care delivery options, are leading the evolution. Rising costs, care deserts, and the need for stability and increased consumer trust have made virtual care more critical than ever within the healthcare ecosystem.
And while consumers have been utilizing virtual care differently since the pandemic, it’s still an important option. In fact, 76% of patients are likely to use telehealth in the future.1
- 1
MD Live 2024 Virtual Care Consumer Attitudes and Usage Study fielded Q2 2024
Higher satisfaction is especially true for behavioral health services. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), nearly 70% of patients preferred telehealth over in-person visits for therapy sessions.3 These patients appreciated the flexibility and reduced stigma associated with receiving care in a private, familiar environment.
Consumers are also turning to virtual care more often today for routine healthcare needs, such as sleep issues, fatigue, joint pain, and allergies.4 Virtual care helps connect the dots for patients, increasing speed and access to care and reducing the likelihood of delaying care or not receiving it at all. According to internal data, 16% of MD Live patients in 2023 would have delayed care altogether without MD Live, and another 70.8% indicated they would have visited a more costly care site, such as an ED or urgent care center.5
3 ways virtual care is uniquely positioned to advance healthcare
Virtual care that can deliver seamless patient care across settings will create a virtual-first patient mindset by dismantling barriers to care, driving convenience, and reducing overall costs. With that in mind, telehealth has a unique role to play in improving care on three major fronts:
Improved patient experience, care continuity, and health outcomes.
Busy members and employees still value the convenience of telehealth as they don't need to take time off from work or arrange transportation. One recent study, which included more than 3 million telehealth consultations in California, showed that virtual care saves individuals on average 17.6 miles and 35 minutes of travel time round trip per appointment.6 Also, patients are less likely to miss follow-up appointments, leading to more timely intervention and better management of their conditions.
Reduced costs for patients, providers, and payors.
Virtual care drives significant savings overall. An average MD Live Urgent Care visit reduces costs by $290 for our clients.7 Patients see significant savings in transportation costs, earlier detection, and better management of their chronic diseases.
Improved care access and health equity.
Virtual care improves care access for those who cannot get to a brick-and-mortar location. This is especially true for those who lack access to personal transportation or cannot afford public transportation. In a physician survey, 80% of doctors stated that patients have better access to care since using telehealth.8
And, with as many as 30 million Americans living in healthcare deserts, virtual health is uniquely positioned to provide equitable access to care for more vulnerable, rural, and underserved populations.
The key to success: Building a care ecosystem
Despite its role in reducing costs and increasing access, virtual care has its challenges; many physicians have expressed concerns about increased care fragmentation. For instance, a patient may end up seeing multiple providers for the same condition based on what's most convenient at any given time, creating gaps in care and leading to unnecessary visits, higher costs, and lower quality of care for the patient.
At MD Live, we're able to close that loop. Medical records are shared with a patient's PCP, and our providers can refer back to a patient's existing network, ensuring continuity of care whether the patient sees a provider virtually or in person.
As a leader in virtual care and partner with Evernorth Health Services, MD Live is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between virtual and in-person care settings.
MD Live, powered by Evernorth's connected ecosystem, offers flexible solutions while delivering integrated whole-person health and best-in-class affordability for patients, payers, and plans. MD Live by Evernorth offers clients and members:
- Best-in-class provider network specially trained in delivering care virtually.
- High-quality phone, video or asynchronous care.
- Care that goes beyond low-acuity conditions, including women's health support, behavioral health, and chronic condition management through virtual primary care.
- Stability and continued growth with 360° 24/7/365 client support model and a 93% client retention rate.
- Net Promoter Score consistently 70+ or higher.
- Cutting-edge technology and digital solutions to engage patients, streamline their care journey, and close gaps in care fragmentation.
- Digital-first experience to improve access to care, health outcomes, and reduce total cost of care.
MD Live sets the standard for virtual care and empowers clients to take advantage of quality care and a diverse array of delivery options to meet patient preferences. As virtual care evolves into 2.0, we deliver on our promises to meet your toughest challenges head-on while helping your members and employees access the right care at the right time.
Want to learn more about how MD Live can improve patient care while positively impacting your bottom line? Email us at engage@mdlive.com or reach out below to see how we can help you.
The virtual care landscape is evolving quickly, and analysts expect continued consolidation of health services and health plans over time.
- Evernorth serves 300 plans, 2,300 employers, and 170 labor and government entities.
- Our clients benefit from the unprecedented breadth of services available across the Evernorth portfolio, including home care solutions, health and wellness coaching, utilization management, pharmacy benefit management, and more.