Because of this trend, some employers are opting to support this cost-saving healthcare service, but the fact remains that only a fraction of the people who could use this service actually take advantage of its convenience. And that creates a domino effect, because the lack of patients using the service is precisely why many employers are still not supporting it.
Essentially, studies have found that the utilization rate of patients is a primary factor stopping employers from stepping into the future and offering their employees a proven, cost-saving method of healthcare via telemedicine.
Utilization Rates are Below Potential
People are not using this valuable, easy to use service? Why? Let’s look at the facts.
Willis Towers Watson examined recent employer claims data, and their analysis found that the average patient needing primary care goes to see their doctor in person, (in office, urgent care facility, or hospital) 2.5 times each year.
But, it is believed that as many as 15% of those in-person visits could be replaced by telemedicine visits. Essentially, the medical issues behind those visits fit the criteria for proper diagnosis and treatment via a telemedicine appointment. The medical issues include, for example, the common cold, urinary tract infections, skin rashes, bronchitis, allergic reactions and many others, all of which can be easily addressed through an electronic appointment.
But, despite the potential of telemedicine to replace in-person visits, it has been found that the utilization rate of the service is just one tenth of the maximum 15% of all in-person visits. What is holding patients back? If you could get medical advice and prescriptions faster and easier with a few clicks on your computer, wouldn’t you?
Apparently, the answer can be found in the patient’s co-pay. Which is why some people believe that employers should offer telemedicine to their employees for free.
Should Telemedicine Be Free?
When telemedicine statistics are analyzed, it is found that utilization rates change depending on whether there is a co-pay for patients. Studies found that people choose telemedicine four times more often when there is no employee co-pay for the appointment. But, when there is a $40 employee co-pay, for example, the patients tend to head into the doctor’s office to be seen face-to-face.
So, proponents of telemedicine contend that the fastest way for employers to access potential billions of dollars in savings from this healthcare service is to offer it to their employees for free.
Free Still Saves Employers Money
If you look at the costs, they prove that even if employers offered telemedicine for free, it has the capacity to still cost them less than other methods of care.
One analysis of outpatient emergency room visits, which encompassed the entire U.S., revealed that the average cost of these visits was $1,570. But, the average cost of an ER visit for a medical issue potentially treatable by telemedicine is only about $900.
The study also looked at urgent care, where a visit averages around $155, while a seeing a primary care doctor costs an average of $114. In stark contrast, the average cost of a telemedicine visit is just $45.
So, when you tally up the cost of a face-to-face visit with a doctor, it is easy to conclude that even if employers covered the full $45 cost of a telemedicine visit, their savings would be substantial. In fact, it would save an average of $70 to $855 depending on the type of visit. When applied to all employees, the savings would be a game-changer for any business.
The Cost and the Future
So, we know there are savings to be discovered, but what is the cost of doing nothing? Failure to act could be costing employers a lot of money. In fact, according to a Willis Towers Watson internal analysis, telemedicine has the potential to exponentially lower health care costs, by as much as $6 billion annually, for U.S. employers.
With 67% of employers offering telemedicine today and 90% expected to by 2018, telemedicine is an important, cost-effective choice in health care options for the future, but those savings could easily be realized now.
Telemedicine has grown more popular over the last few years and has been backed by health plans with Cigna Inc. As of 2014, approximately 15 million people had benefited from this innovative, time-saving method to get medical advice and treatment. That figure represented a 50 % increase versus the prior year, proving its popularity is growing.
Who is Onboard with Telemedicine Now?
According to recent surveys, many hospitals (and insurance companies) are supporting the move to telemedicine because it has proven to reduce hospital stays and cut associated costs. Some hospital studies found that the average cost of an online consultation with a doctor is about $50, versus an average of $80 for an in-office visit.
Why aren’t more people using this service and more employers paying for it? Like any other new trend, it takes time to create awareness, understanding, and acceptance and for people to trust it enough to use it.
People and some employers still may question things like the quality of the service provided, since the patient is not seeing a doctor face-to-face. But arguably, telemedicine offers extra benefits to people, like gaining access to remote or hard to see specialists and well as faster access to primary care.
So essentially, the quality of service a patient receives could be superior to settling for a doctor nearby or waiting for a hard-to-get appointment. Also, if the patient has a specialized condition, telemedicine allows those in rural or underserved areas to quickly gain access to a qualified specialist they might normally wait months to see. It allows hospitals to expand their outreach to more patients in need of service.
Research says that for many healthcare needs, a telemedicine appointment is as good as a face-to-face office visit with your doctor. According to the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), approximately 20% to 30% of face-to-face visits could be achieved in alternative, non-face-to-face venues.
These findings are derived from a survey by Foley & Lardner, the “2014 Telemedicine Survey Executive Summary,” where it discovered that 90% of health plan leaders report that they have already begun developing or implementing a telemedicine program.
There are different ways to use this service too. The survey found that of the types of telemedicine currently offered, 64% of people used remote monitoring, 52% used real-time interaction services, and 54% used store-and-forward technology, which in Telehealth involves the acquisition and storing of clinical information (e.g. data, image, sound, video) that is then forwarded to (or retrieved by) another site for clinical evaluation.
How Could Telemedicine Work for You?
When you are sick or need the advice of a doctor, you would be able to choose whether you must head to the doctor’s office or hospital or simply pick up your smartphone or log onto your computer for a consultation. The doctor-patient relationship simply is easier to manage and getting answers about your illness is simple and faster to obtain.
At eDrugstore, we use telemedicine and online medical consultations to increase patient access to medications and healthcare. Telemedicine is popular among patients looking for an affordable and convenient way to address common health concerns, without being required to have a face-to-face doctor’s appointment for a physical examination.
Instead, you are sent a secure online medical questionnaire that will be reviewed by a US-licensed physician. For your safety, it is required that we ask about your last physical examination before dispensing your medication. An online medical consultation is a great choice for patients seeking treatment for non-life threatening conditions – including male impotence and hair loss – since these conditions typically don’t necessitate an immediate visit to your doctor’s office.
eDrugstore is not new to using telemedicine either. We have been using this patient-friendly way to improve healthcare delivery since 1998. We are dedicated to our patients and strive to meet and exceed all regulations pertaining to telemedicine. We only work with US-licensed physicians and pharmacists that dispense authentic, FDA-approved medications. That means that when you order from eDrugstore, you’re getting the exact same medication you could get at your local pharmacy.
Patient Privacy and Telemedicine
Privacy is a vital part of telemedicine, so we protect customer information using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and advanced data encryption. All personal information is kept in a secure database with restricted permissions – the physician handling your case is the only person who can gain access to your confidential medical history.
Since 1998, eDrugstore.com has helped more than 500,000 customers gain access to prescription medications for male impotence. Your online pharmacy should always be available during business hours to answer your questions and communicate as needed.
We specialize in providing our over 1,000,000 customers with relevant product and condition information created by our professional editorial staff which includes our team of medical writers, medical practitioners, and health educators. eDrugStore.com Staff on Facebook