Telemedicine and
Small Businesses:
The Future of Employee
Health Care

Modern health care has transformed in recent years due to advances in medical technology and consumer-facing digital platforms; now, patients can access medical resources and consult with doctors through their smartphone screens. This shift reflects changing expectations and has established telemedicine as a common choice for routine interactions and an advantage for small businesses looking to make the most out of the health insurance budgets.

In short, telemedicine refers to health care services offered online through digital platforms instead of through in-person visits to a physician’s office. While not all health care services can be conducted online, employees are increasingly moving online for annual checkups and other non-emergency services.

Why Choose Telemedicine?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic made remote work the new norm for many industries, workers have found telemedicine to be an effective alternative to in-person health care services. According to a recent poll, 37% of patients who utilized telehealth resources reported increased adherence to existing treatment plans. Additionally, telehealth saw an increase of over 7% in overall utilization as of 2023 .

Telemedicine can provide a wide array of benefits to small health business owners and employees, including:

• Convenience and Accessibility: Employees can quickly schedule appointments at their own convenience and speak with their care providers from anywhere with an internet connection. This allows all employees, such as those living in rural areas, increased accessibility to health care resources.
• Safety: Worried that you’ve got a case of the flu? Virtual physician visits and consultations can reduce the spread of contagious diseases or conditions.
• Cost-Effective Health Care Solutions: With more frequent checkups and consultations, employees can catch health issues early and take the necessary steps to ensure their long-term health. Employers spend less on telemedicine solutions than they would on employee visits to urgent care facilities or emergency rooms.
• Enhanced Engagement: Have a health-related question but can’t get through to your physician’s receptionist? Employees can message their health care providers at their own pace and engage with educational materials related to their treatment to encourage further participation.
• Part of a Complete Benefits Package: Telehealth solutions are becoming more and more commonplace, with workers utilizing and expecting telehealth resources to be an element of their overall benefits package. According to a recent study, telehealth utilization levels have topped their pre-pandemic highs , with employees carrying their virtual health care practices into the post-pandemic age.

Telemedicine Resources Available to Small Business Employees

Through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, small business employees can access a variety of different telemedicine resources through select health insurance plans. These resources can be categorized under two distinct options:

• Virtual Visits through MDLive: Scheduling virtual appointments with board-certified doctors for non-emergency health issues can help empower employees through convenient, flexible consultations. Employees can then have any necessary prescriptions sent to nearby pharmacies and access their health information through the Virtual Visits portal, giving them peace of mind and reducing the likelihood of absenteeism or missed appointments.
• Virtual Primary Care through Teladoc Health: Employees can also choose their primary care provider and schedule regular checkups, get referrals for in-person care and access behavioral health resources through their computer or smartphone screen.

Tackling Telehealth Misconceptions

As with any leap in technology or shift in cultural norms, telemedicine comes with its share of misconceptions and stereotypes.

• Misconception: Telemedicine is new and still in its infancy.
• Fact: Telemedicine has actually been around for decades (in fact, doctors were diagnosing patients via radio as early as 1925 !), but recent technology has vastly improved the experience for users and providers alike.

• Misconception: Telemedicine is only for patients who live in remote areas or otherwise cannot easily access in-person health care resources.
• Fact: Telemedicine can be used by anybody, no matter how near or far they are from health care providers. More and more patients are choosing to have their annual checkups conducted virtually due to convenience and personal preference.

• Misconception: Telemedicine doesn’t really address patient health concerns.
• Fact: Doctors can frequently and effectively address health concerns through telemedicine platforms, especially when it comes to services such as consultations that don’t require in-person interactions. While patients should obviously seek out in-person services in the event of a health emergency, virtual visits can be perfect for checkups or consultations.

How Will Telehealth Impact the Future of Health Care?

Emerging technologies are reshaping telemedicine, providing small business employees with advanced health care solutions. Innovations like AI, secure data transmission, and enhanced analytics improve virtual care efficiency, allowing for accurate remote diagnoses and condition management. In particular , mobile diagnostic aids, remote patient monitoring, and AI-assisted care management will make it easier than ever for patients to diagnose and treat myriad conditions without overcrowding their primary care provider’s office.

For small businesses, these advances mean offering quality health benefits more affordably. Telemedicine now supports continuous condition monitoring and instant access to specialists, reducing costs and improving employee health outcomes. As technology integrates further, it promises more accessible and effective health care for small business employees.

Conclusion

Telemedicine continues to evolve, but small businesses should waste no time in making digital health care solutions available to their employees. Between the unparalleled accessibility offered to patients and the robust range of non-emergency health care solutions possible through virtual visits, there’s never been a better time for small businesses to take advantage of telemedicine resources.
Learn more about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois telehealth and virtual care resources by visiting our Telehealth and Virtual Care page or by exploring other small group health insurance plans to find out which policies are the right fit for your small business.