Cost savings aren’t the only metric employers are looking at when choosing digital health solutions. Ellen Kelsay, CEO of employer-focused nonprofit Business Group on Health, says major employer members in her organization are looking for health solutions. Digital health can integrate with each other and with traditional care providers.
“A lot of these virtual health solutions are offered in one go,” says Kelsay. “They are a well-intentioned and attractive one-off solution, but sustainability would not be available if these systems were not integrated more comprehensively.”
Companies that sell to employers have taken notice of changing priorities. At the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference earlier this month, Teladoc Health CEO Jason Gorevic promoted the company’s whole-person telehealth efforts, including primary care. head, mental health and specialist visits. The company recently put all of its virtual health services into one app.
“There are a lot of virtual care companies out there that are narrower focused, smaller in size, and are crowding out the advantages of a single company. [software] solution,” said Gorevic.
The phrase “point solutions,” an industry term for software products that focus on only one area of medical care, has become the laughing stock of investors, buyers, and medical companies. other digital. Donald Trigg, CEO of healthcare navigation company Apee Health, which was formed when Castlight Health and Vera Whole Health merged, said such types of companies will see a shift. on the market.
“There are a number of macro factors around cost and there is a craving from COVID for integrated solution delivery as opposed to the point solution storm we have seen over the years,” Trigg said. ‘ Trigg said.
Omada Health, a chronic care digital healthcare company, has begun selling to health systems, including a partnership with Intermountain that was announced earlier this month. Sean Duffy, CEO of Omada Health, says employers are starting to get tired of having too many digital health solutions.
“We’re seeing more requests for proposals where employers say, ‘I just need to solidify my key solutions,'” Duffy said.
Some companies in this sector may have been looking for potential merger and acquisition partners, experts said. At the very least, companies should better understand what employers are looking for in digital health solutions.
“The more they can demonstrate over time that they have actually improved patient experience and outcomes, the better it will be for their sustainability in the marketplace,” says Kelsay. “But a lot of these companies come and talk about the value of their own solutions in a vacuum. They don’t pay attention to what success will look like for patients and employers.”
This story first appeared in Digital Health Business & Technology.
