What to Consider When Evaluating a Virtual Primary Care Solution

Are your virtual healthcare benefits meeting your members’ needs? With 74% of physicians now working in practices that offer telehealth services—an increase of nearly threefold since 2018—chances are your people are likely seeking them out. Although the initial surge in telehealth was driven by pandemic necessity, the convenience and accessibility of virtual care continue to make it a preferred choice for many.

This shift benefits both employers and employees, but it also raises a crucial question: How can you identify the virtual primary care solution that will deliver the most value to your organization and the best care to your people? This blog will explore the differentiators that employers should consider when evaluating a virtual primary care solution.

What Features Should I Be Looking For in Virtual Primary Care?

Great virtual primary care goes beyond just the convenience of the digital space; it should make time-consuming tasks like scheduling, communication, and continuity of care more efficient. It should also keep users’ sensitive information safe and facilitate a smooth transition when in-person treatment is necessary. Minimal barriers to access and a seamless user experience are key differentiators in an effective virtual primary care approach.

Preventive care is crucial to long-term wellbeing, and the fact of the matter is, medical issues shouldn’t wait. Unfortunately, it can currently take up to 26 days for a new patient to see a physician. It goes without saying that this is far too long, and in many cases, results in the use of high-cost alternatives such as urgent care or the emergency room. Health issues rarely arise when it’s convenient, and that’s why being able to access a primary care provider at any time is essential.

Whether it’s the middle-of-the-night concern, a medical question while on vacation, or just a simple daytime checkup, members should be able to get care when they need it. In addition to receiving care immediately, the ability to pre-schedule appointments and fit care into members’ busy lives also helps improve access for many people. Timely primary care visits can prevent minor issues from becoming major health crises, reduce the need for emergency interventions, and ultimately lower healthcare costs.

Healthcare records can contain multiple pieces of sensitive data, including everything from personal identifiers to medical history and treatment records. As a result, they are highly sought-after pieces of information for cyber criminals during attempted data breaches. In 2023, there were 725 data breaches within various healthcare companies that affected more than 133 million medical records. In today’s world of advanced technology, security is not something to be taken lightly.

Healthcare companies with accreditations such as HITRUST CSF® are certified in meeting regulatory requirements and have proven that their electronic health record is secure. This demonstrates a commitment to appropriately mitigating risk and protecting their information. Trusting an organization with your people’s information is a large undertaking, so relying on an entity that is accredited and regulated is an important step in keeping their data safe.

Simple is better; the ability to manage all primary care needs in one place is also an important feature of a great virtual offering. Scheduling appointments, filling out forms, viewing records, and other tasks can be potential barriers to care if they are too complicated to complete. A recent patient survey showed that in 2022, 61% of patients skipped going to the doctor because scheduling an appointment was too much of a hassle. Instead of utilizing multiple different platforms to ultimately achieve the same goal, a central member portal helps streamline the experience and close potential care gaps.

Don’t know where your immunization record is? That should be a just few short taps away. Lacking quick access to a printer to fill out forms? No problem, you can complete and send them to the provider digitally. Need to move an appointment around without making the time to call? Shouldn’t take more than thirty seconds. These are the types of features that make it easy for members to keep their health a priority and prevent them from opting out of care due to complexity.

What happens when care can’t be delivered virtually? While many primary care needs can be met in the digital space, there are cases where in-person appointments are necessary. In typical circumstances, this puts the onus on the member to re-explain their medical history and current ailment to a new provider. This is an exhausting and time-consuming process for all parties involved; members should never feel like they’re “starting over”. A better solution is one that integrates virtual and in-person care to help drive the best outcomes and most value for users.

Picture this: the issue discussed at a virtual appointment is already understood upon checking in for the in-person visit. There is no new paperwork and no explaining to do. Care is given efficiently, and follow-up information comes directly to the same integrated portal. At the next virtual appointment that comes around, the virtual provider knows what care was given at the health center and can even message the in-person provider to collaborate. How easy is that? Quality coordination of care between virtual and in-person touchpoints is key to a seamless member experience.

Your Search For Better Virtual Primary Care Ends Here

Not all platforms are created equal. Premise Health’s virtual primary care solution offers all the above, and more. Besides setting ourselves apart with innovative technologies and security features, we ensure that members have the same level of access whether they live in a bustling city or rurally. We believe your geographic location should not affect the quality of care available. And when in-person care is needed, the transition to one of our onsite or nearsite health centers is seamless. Our model focuses on a whole-person approach and prioritizes the long-term health of members, so we can help them get, stay, and be well.

Contact us to learn how to get started with quality virtual care for your employees.

Source:  HITRUST CSF® is a registered trademark of HISTRUST protection standards organization