Telemedicine isn't a new concept. In fact, telemedicine dates back to the early 1920s when people were predicting doctors would soon use televisions and microphones to communicate with patients.

Obviously, telemedicine has advanced significantly since then—especially in the last 25 years with the introduction of the internet. During many of those intervening years, employees have been reticent to adopt telemedicine. Technical issues, quality of care and security concerns typically top the list of reasons many employees have not used telemedicine in the past. However, over the last few years, I've noticed a shift in employee behavior: More people are starting to embrace telemedicine. And, I'm not the only one taking notice. According to an article earlier this year, telemedicine use grew 1,398 percent from 2014 to 2018.

So, why the big shift in employee adoption? I see three big reasons:

1. Employees in rural areas have little access to in-person health care

It's so dire that employees who live in rural areas have access to only 13.1 doctors per 10,000 people as opposed to 31.2 doctors per 10,000 people in urban areas. What's more, if you're an employee living in a rural area of the United States, chances are you may have to travel upwards of 200 miles to visit the nearest hospital! And, the recent physician shortage isn't helping either.

Primary care doctors who do work in these rural areas are typically spread thin, and access to specialists in areas like mental health and obstetrics is almost non-existent. On the other hand, 81 percent of all Americans now own a smartphone, which means healthcare is now more accessible than ever before for these rural populations. No geographical limits. No wait times. No traveling 200 miles to see a primary care doctor. It's not surprising these rural employees have recently adopted telemedicine in a big way!

2. Virtual care is becoming almost as trusted as in-person care

For many people, health care comes down to one word: Trust. People go to (and stay with) certain physicians because they trust them. They trust them to provide good advice about their health. They trust them to deliver exceptional care. And, more than anything, they trust them to do the right thing. Building trust when you can see your doctor face-to-face a few times a year is relatively easy. Building trust over the phone (or, tougher yet, the Internet) is a bit more challenging. But, that tide—and sentiment—is changing.

A study by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that the quality of care delivered via telemedicine was as effective as in-person care. Another study in the American Journal of Managed Care found that patients who utilized telemedicine had a lower hospital re-admission rate and scored lower for depression, anxiety, and stress. Plus, employers are getting smarter about how they facilitate virtual care in the workplace. For example, some employers are changing their heath plans to eliminate copays for telemedicine to encourage use among employees. Other employers are now devoting private rooms in the workplace for employees to access telemedicine during breaks or over the lunch hour.

3. Employees can save almost $500 per visit

Obviously, one big factor for all employees when making health care decisions is cost. Here's where telemedicine can really pay off. Typically, telemedicine costs a fraction of what employees (and employers) would spend on visits to urgent care clinics or emergency rooms. In fact, our clients are currently saving an estimated $495 per telemedicine episode, on average!

So, as you can see, the tide seems to be turning when it comes to telemedicine. Employees are becoming more comfortable with technology—and employers are getting smarter about how to facilitate it. The quality of care is improving. And, telemedicine is saving employees a lot of money! As these trends continue, I expect we'll see even more employers prioritizing telemedicine as part of their employee benefit packages in the year ahead!

Alissa Traughber is a Senior Product Manager at CoreSource, Inc., working out of the company's home office in Lake Forest, Illinois.

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Why more employees are embracing telemedicine

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