Healthcare Technology Makes Primary Care Easily Accessible For All

Experts recognize that healthcare disparities can often create barriers to health resources, including preventive care. Although it's difficult to measure the resulting specific health impacts, we do know lack of access leads to significant avoidable costs. It's estimated that approximately $320 billion in annual healthcare spending stems from limited access to care. By making preventive care easier to access, it can help reduce these costs by promoting early detection and better health practices while also reducing the need for acute care and more challenging condition management.

Everyone Deserves Care That Feels Comfortable And Safe

Despite the importance of preventive care, many people do not access these services regularly. Barriers to care often include cost; lack of local primary care provider availability; living too far away from providers; and even limited awareness around recommended preventive services. While many of these issues can be directly addressed with virtual care, other barriers may seem less readily solved — at least, at first glance. 

For example, some people may fear differences in the care they receive. A recent survey found women experienced a higher incidence of care providers dismissing their health concerns versus their male counterparts, making them less likely to pursue care. Women also report receiving diagnoses later than men during the course of an illness, reducing the likelihood of positive health outcomes.

Virtual Care Supports Universal Access To Preventive Care

Prevention is important for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity, age, disability, or other demographics. One way to increase access is through education and resources, providing information about preventive care as well as the importance of regular check-ups and screenings. 

Virtual primary care has also emerged as a powerful tool for breaking down barriers to receiving annual preventive services. The easier and less disruptive it is to make appointments and find care, the more likely people are to do it. This is how virtual primary care empowers all people with diverse identities and life experiences to get the care they need to stay on top of — or even get ahead of — major health concerns. The applications and benefits of virtual primary care span across all aspects of  inclusivity and accessibility.

• It’s Easier To Schedule Appointments. Taking prolonged time off work is no longer a requirement for routine visits. Virtual primary care eliminates the need to commute to many appointments, meaning scheduling visits if you do not have transportation. If you are a primary caregiver or managing a busy schedule, it is easier than ever — even at work while on a break or during lunch.

 

• There’s Added Comfort And Privacy With Virtual Visits. Having vulnerable conversations about potentially sensitive health topics can be even harder in clinical offices, but virtual primary care appointments can take place wherever someone feels most comfortable.

 

• Additional Providers Are Available Through Virtual Primary Care. Virtual primary care can create options for individuals to access a variety of providers without geographic constraints or even to help ease the projected national shortage of primary care physicians, which by 2034 may reach up to 124,000 fewer physicians than needed. This means more care provider options (and easier scheduling), as well as the ability to select certain doctors based on specialty areas or other practice characteristics. 
  

 

• Employees Stay Present And Productive. Successful prevention of chronic disease helps us feel better and more engaged while reducing the amount of time employees must spend away from work (absenteeism) and also allowing them to be present at full capacity during business hours (presenteeism).

 

• Digital Tools Provide 24/7 Access To Health Resources. Relying on digital tools and apps like Sydney^SM Health  means each individual can have on-demand access to health resources, including visits with a care provider without waiting weeks for an appointment. Employees can also use Sydney to view claims information, see custom health insights, or access their health plan resources.

Getting regular preventive care (and adhering to personalized care plans) can elevate workforce productivity, enable employees to care for their own health, and lower costs of care. All of these increase employee satisfaction and serve to boost your business’ bottom line.

Support Employees With Digital Health And Wellness Tools

People want to use telehealth services. A 2022 survey showed 80% of respondents had used telehealth at some point, with year-to-year increases across every age group. 82% of women reported using telehealth services in the past year, representing a nine-point increase from the previous year. 

Making regular preventive visits readily available through a virtual care environment is critical for maintaining good health and workforce productivity, since everyone needs to prioritize regular check-ups and screenings. Virtual primary care makes healthcare appointments, including preventive care, easier to schedule and more comfortable to attend than ever before. In addition, reinforcing the investment in preventive care helps people protect their health and reduce healthcare costs, driving workforce productivity and business profitability. 

Sydney Health is offered through an arrangement with Carelon Digital Platforms, a separate company offering mobile application services on behalf of your health plan. © 2023 

The Virtual Primary Care experience is offered through an arrangement with Hydrogen Health.