The Future of Health: Beyond the Virus

By Terri L. Rhodes, CCMP, CLMS, CPDM, MBA

CEO
DMEC

COVID-19 remains a dominant concern for most employers and has changed the way we access non-urgent medical care.

When the pandemic hit, clinical practices scrambled to find the “right now” solution, with some medical offices turning over to virtual strategies in a single weekend. However, telemedicine isn’t a new concept. In fact, telemedicine dates to the early 1920s when doctors used radios to give medical advice to clinics on ships. Science and Innovation magazine published an article in 1925 where it imagined a device that would someday allow the doctor to conduct an examination via video.

Yet prior to the pandemic, almost one third of provider organizations did not utilize telehealth. However, this began to shift quickly. In April 2020, visits for outpatient care had fallen nearly 60%. From April to September 2020, we saw heavy to moderate use of telehealth. Telehealth eases the fears of those with preexisting health problems by allowing them to avoid the risk of visiting a hospital or clinic, and telehealth also addresses the concerns of those individuals with transportation challenges or issues. And for parents who lack childcare, it allows them to get health services without the burden of having to arrange for their children’s care while they see their provider in person.

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