Top 5 Reasons to Connect with Virtual Care
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on March 7, 2022
Top 5 Reasons to Connect with Virtual Care
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on March 7, 2022
Has this happened to you? You’re woken up in the middle of the night by a child with body aches and fever chills. Or maybe your asthma flares up, a bladder infection recurs or you have symptoms of a strep throat. It’s too late to visit the after-hours medical clinic or ring your family doctor, and the emergency department may or may not be an option.
So, what do you do? Where or who do you turn to for diagnosis and treatment?
Enter virtual care. Also known as telemedicine, virtual care is the delivery of medical services using your phone, smartphone, tablet or computer. You can connect with a health professional online for a medical consult, to fill a prescription, get a checkup ― all from the comfort and convenience of your home ― day or night.
Your health is in your hands with virtual care.
Think of it as an in-home digital healthcare clinic. It provides fast timely access to healthcare ― on your terms ― and is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
- Describe your symptoms. A healthcare provider will review your request and respond within minutes.
- Have a consultation with a doctor via text, video or audio chat.
- Get a diagnosis and prescription, which can be sent to your pharmacy of choice or delivered direct to your door, depending on the service you receive.
Virtual care benefits
1. Greater access to care
More than five million Canadians (that’s about 13% of the population) do not have access to a family doctor. And even those that do have to rely on walk-in clinics or ERs if their physician is unavailable to meet in-person or a medical emergency occurs outside their office hours. Connecting Canadians to licensed health care professionals at the touch of a button, ensures that everyone receives the latest, safest healthcare, no matter where they live.
2. Time, money savings
Being able to receive healthcare where and when you need it means you don’t have to travel, take time off work or worry about other responsibilities, saving you time and money on gas, parking and other costs. In 2019, virtual care saved Canadians 11.5 million hours and $595 million in expenses.
3. Convenient support
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, less than 40% of Canadians could get a same day appointment with their physician. In fact, 20% had to wait seven days or more to see their doctor. Virtual care removes that barrier. Having the ability to get care anywhere, anytime also means timely access to treatment and that’s directly linked to a faster, healthier recovery and return to work.
4. Family presence
It’s also easier to have family members or caregivers around you when you visit a doctor virtually. They can join in your appointment and help you follow the doctor’s advice after. This extra support could make a difference in how quickly you get back to health and back to your normal life. In addition, there’s no risk of exposure to a virus or other illness when healthcare is accessed online.
5. Quality care
The majority of participants in the Benefit Canada 2021 Healthcare Survey were satisfied with the quality of care they received online. In fact, 88% of those who accessed virtual care through their benefits plan described it as excellent or very good. That is consistent with results of similar research studies. Moreover, timely access to treatment is directly linked a faster recovery to health and return to work.
Virtual care services
Here are just a few examples of the ways Medavie Blue Cross is putting health care at the fingertips of Canadians.
Connected Care - Our digital storefront draws on the latest technologies and innovations to offer plan members premium access to the best, most immediate care possible — wherever, whenever they need it —at preferred pricing.
Live and digital therapy (iCBT) enables plan members to access clinically proven treatment for mild to moderate anxiety or depression from the privacy of their homes.
Virtual physiotherapy is a convenient, secure and confidential way to get the benefits of an in-person physiotherapist online.
Personalized medicine (pharmacogenetic testing) determines the safest, most effective medication for plan members based on their DNA.
Online Doctors (virtual doctor visits) enables members to skip the waiting line and connect with a doctor in minutes for consultation and treatment, using their computer or mobile device.
Diabetes Care Program combines personalized coaching, home delivery of test strips and glucose monitoring to support plan members living with diabetes, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol.
Mindfulness and meditation app (Petit Bambou) can help members build mental resilience as one of the world’s most popular mindfulness and meditation apps.
Mobile App
One of the highest rated apps of any insurance company, it can help members manage prescription drugs, receive refill reminders and search for health professionals in their communities.
Home Delivery of Prescription Drugs
Allows members to access their prescriptions for medications they take on a regular basis, also known as maintenance drugs, through our home delivery services; free of charge to members and their families.
Sources: Infoway, Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute’s Forum 2021, Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey
Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits and administers federal and provincial government-sponsored health programs. Together with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie, a health solutions partner committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians. We are in the...