Primary care physicians are at the heart of health care delivery in the United States. In addition to providing many important medical services, they also coordinate all other forms of health care throughout the health system.
Virtual primary care can address challenges in traditional care by filling existing care gaps and bring various benefits to organizations, experts say. healthcare organizations, providers, and patients.
The majority of telehealth technology and services company Teladoc Health’s business is primary care.
We interviewed Kelly Bliss, president of the US medical group at Teladoc Health, to discuss how virtual primary care can provide ongoing care coordination for preventive care, chronic disease management mental health and mental health services; providing cost savings from reduced out-of-pocket costs and insurance premiums, as well as avoiding unnecessary or repetitive care in the practice; and improve access to care and patient experience.
Ask. You argue that virtual primary care can amplify value in many ways. First, you suggest that it could provide ongoing care coordination for preventive care, chronic disease management, and mental health services. Please explain how and what value virtual primary care adds here.
ONE. Virtual primary care serves as an access point for bringing individuals into the health care system and, by bringing the health care system to the individual, where they want to receive care. And most of the time is at home.
It is perfectly positioned to provide integrated care because it can act as a hub for other services (mental health, chronic disease management, specialty care) and is linked appropriate to direct experience, combined when medically appropriate.
It addresses historical challenges to access to primary health care and better connects people to the ability to detect, prevent and manage conditions, helping them lead healthy lives. strongest.
For example, in our program, 38% of people diagnosed with diabetes were newly diagnosed, and 25% of people diagnosed with hypertension were also diagnosed with Teladoc’s primary care provider. They just diagnosed the same thing. These are diagnoses that would otherwise go unnoticed, leading to unmanageable outcomes.
And virtual first doesn’t mean just virtual. This is important virtual primary care work that integrates with the broader healthcare ecosystem, connecting patients physically and digitally with in-network specialists when appropriate.
For example, many individuals undergo preventative screening for diseases such as colorectal, breast, or cervical cancer, and a lot of this knowledge is acquired or learned during a primary care visit virtual. Robust virtual care programs connect the dots for members and help guide them to appropriate follow-up care.
Ask. You also say virtual primary care saves money by reducing out-of-pocket costs and insurance premiums, as well as avoiding unnecessary or repetitive care in a traditional setting. Please explain in detail about this proposal and about the value created.
ONE. Primary care has long been known and recognized as a model to limit rising costs. People without a primary care physician are more likely to delay getting checkups, have difficulty managing their chronic conditions, and are more likely to use high-cost facilities, like urgent care. acute care or emergency room, often for care that could be delivered in a primary care setting.
The convenience of virtual primary care – combined with the ability to support better preventative care – reduces unnecessary emergency room visits and directs members to health care services. The most cost-effective health care.
Virtual primary care services integrated into the first virtual health plan could have a major impact on affordability, both at the employer/health plan sponsor level and membership level. The digital accessibility of virtual-first health plans combined with low or no copays motivates individuals to seek preventive care early and often, reducing risk of disease progression and unnecessary hospitalization.
These plans are growing in popularity as consumers increasingly demand and expect a virtual component to their healthcare.
Ask. You added that virtual primary care can improve access to care and improve the patient experience. How accurate is that?
ONE. Today, there are many challenges facing direct primary care. I would say one of the bigger barriers is the lack of access to PCPs in general. Many individuals across the country live in designated primary care deserts, leaving them with little or no access to the care they need.
According to recent studies, an estimated 100 million people, or one-third of Americans, do not have a primary care provider.
Additionally, wait times to see a PCP can be long (wait times to see a PCP in person can take up to a month), and actual visits with a PCP can be quite short. Even finding time for an appointment can be difficult due to unique work schedules, family commitments, and more.
Virtual primary care can eliminate these geographic barriers to care. It eliminates many of the conflicts and disparities in care, and because of it, individuals can receive the same quality of care regardless of the community in which they live.
Virtual primary care also allows for more flexibility in appointment times and convenience in where and how appointments are made. Individuals can connect with their PCP and care team via phone, video, or in-app messaging by appointment or on-demand.
This is especially convenient for patients in rural, remote areas and low-income areas who may face transportation barriers.
Virtual primary care visits also last longer than in-person visits, with some primary care visits lasting more than 45 minutes. Individuals can build a better relationship and trust with their PCP this way, which can improve care plan compliance and more. We are seeing these relationships translate into member satisfaction levels above 95%.
While virtual primary care is an important first step in improving health outcomes, there are times when in-person services are still necessary. This is another area where virtual primary care shines: robust virtual care ensures individuals can connect to other high-quality care in their network when need, whether it is laboratory testing services, chronic disease management, cancer screening, reproductive benefits, mental health care and more.
Q. According to the report, the national average wait time to see a new primary care physician is nearly a month. What is the value proposition that virtual primary care can deliver here?
ONE. Long waiting times and inconvenience are major problems that prevent people from participating in primary care. As mentioned, the national average wait time to see a PCP is nearly a month. This is largely due to a nationwide shortage of primary care physicians, and some communities are hit hard by this.
But with virtual primary care, we can remove those geographic barriers and provide individuals with access to clinicians beyond the barriers of their ZIP code. It can provide access to primary care within five days in every Zip code in the country, giving individuals who previously did not have access an equitable opportunity to start their journey their preventive health care.
That’s a significant difference, and that extra time could help the world with early detection and timely treatment, which is essential for patients with diabetes, hypertension and other complex conditions. . In fact, we are seeing the introduction of cancer by clinicians and the subsequent early detection of cancer saving lives.
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