Leaders who take care of their employees will find they'll take care of their companies; it's as simple as that.

A few years ago, mental health in the workplace was viewed as managing employee mental health issues directly impacting job performance and guarding against potential employer liability. 

Today, more employers realize that mental health, much like physical health is a constant human concern for every person every day. As a result, providing company-sponsored mental health support is quickly becoming the norm. 

Even...

Virtual primary care is a strategy to improve employer-sponsored health plan members’ well-being and lower claims costs. Aside from expanding access to care that is cost-efficient and reliable, why should an employer offer virtual primary care to employees? Let’s begin by analyzing employer and employee health challenges. 

Drivers of Poor Employee Health and High Claims Costs 

Poor employee health and high health plan costs are concentrated. 5% of health plan members drive 50% of health plan costs. Additionally, 20%...

If you’re like one in three Americans, you've turned to Dr. Google to self-diagnose. What is that lingering pain in my leg? Should I see a doctor about this weird patch of dry skin? Dr. Google is always in. Always there to take in your symptoms and spit out a meaningful, medically-accurate diagnosis within seconds, right?

Wrong!

According to a study from Harvard Medical School, those free online medical symptom checkers:

• Are usually wrong. The correct diagnosis only came up first 34% of the time.
• Cause unnecessary doctor visits,...

As states reopen, many employees are returning to their physical workplace for the first time in months. The workplace can offer a welcome break from home distractions, but it comes with its dangers and stressors. Employers are heeding advice from the Centers for Disease Control and the White House, but what else can they do to support employees? Evolve their employee benefits. Here are four employee benefits that can support employees as they return to work in the wake of COVID-19. 

Caretaker Benefits

Many parents, particularly...

From how we celebrate happy hours and weddings to how we learn and work, COVID-19 has pushed our lives into the digital space. How we interact with healthcare is no exception.

Doctors’ offices and hospital emergency rooms now pose a health risk, and more Americans than ever are looking to telemedicine (often called telehealth or virtual care) as a solution. Patients, doctors, regulators and employers recognize its potential to expand care for physical and mental health needs.

As a benefits professional, you need to know 10...

Corporate wellness strategy design and implementation

We design, communicate, and execute corporate wellness programs that align with your company’s culture, budget, and health profile to maximize employee engagement and sustained health improvements.

Health risk assessment

Data from our health assessment gives employers insight into the collective health and risk stratification of their employee population to help inform workplace wellness program initiatives and introduce measures to help manage and reduce...

Nearly half of Americans say their mental health has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. It’s no wonder: Many Americans are out of work, isolated, stuck inside and facing a global pandemic unlike anything we’ve seen in 100 years. 

Mental Illness Was Already Common Before COVID-19

Many Americans faced mental illness before the pandemic, most commonly anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder. In fact, 1 in 5 Americans experience...

I hope everyone who made a resolution to be fit is starting to see a difference. That said, if someone has been pretty sedentary, and he or she jumps into a new fitness program too quickly, overuse injuries can occur. Understanding how to pace yourself while getting fit is key.

Overuse injuries and common causes

Overuse injuries can be any type of muscle or joint injury like bursitis, tendonitis, or stress fractures that are caused by repetitive trauma. Overuse injuries are usually caused by:

• Biting off more than you...

Effective Diagnosis and Management of Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are widespread disorders and diseases caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. They cause serious health problems worldwide. Common infectious diseases include influenza, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Valley fever, urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), hepatitis C, and many other infectious diseases related to travel. Signs and symptoms vary...

“Don’t stress it.”

This phrase has become common in our everyday language but do we take our own advice? Ah, if it were only that easy.

Stress is part of the human condition, it has been around since the beginning and isn’t leaving anytime soon. Instead of saber toothed tigers, rival cave clans or famine raising our blood pressure it’s our bank accounts, jobs and families that have us wound tight. So, can stress make us sick? In a word, yes. However, there are many factors to consider when looking at the impact of stress...

Over the years, TelaCare has begun to transform how (SMBs) small to midsize businesses provide healthcare benefits to their employees. This is a service that more employers are including to employees to attract and retain their workforce in a competitive job market. As you will learn you may want to include TelaCare in your companies benefits as well.

Providing outpatient medical care remotely

TelaCare utilizes modern communications technologies to provide patients with remote access to healthcare services. It’s primarily used for...

When focusing on the expenditures within an organization, healthcare is one of the highest costs for employers. Cost-containment is a term which employers frequently use, but what does it mean? Before we discuss strategies, we'll first want to discuss what cost-containment is.

What is Cost-Containment?

Cost-containment refers to the practice’s companies utilize to maintain the lowest expenditure levels possible for healthcare costs. A primary focus is placed on

• Thoughtfully reducing unnecessary expenses
• Prevention ...

When illness strikes and your primary care isn’t available, most people turn to an urgent care or emergency room.

These settings offer more hours and allow walk-in appointments, which works better than the traditional physician office setting for busy patients. But these visits are costing you more than you think: in both time and money.

And most of these cases can be diverted to telehealth visits for a fraction of the cost. Here we break down how much these unnecessary visits really cost. Yes, you will spend a lot of...

TOLEDO, Ohio, Oct. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on a comprehensive analysis of U.S.-based private ventures, the Entrepreneur Magazine's 360 list features organizations that demonstrate mastery of four metrics: innovation, growth, leadership, and impact. TelaCare Health Solutions, a national telemedicine software and service provider, was recognized for leveraging its proprietary technology platform to meet a critical need in the marketplace and become a leader in the telehealth industry while maintaining a culture of...

Everyone knows that health care is in trouble – skyrocketing costs, long wait times, and a physician shortage are just a few of the problems – but rural communities are facing an even worse situation. Since 2005, over 120 rural hospitals have closed or gone out of business. And the trend is accelerating - approximately two-thirds of those closures have been since 2010. This leaves many rural communities and millions of Americans without access to needed care. Rural hospitals close for many reasons, but it is not due to...

While telehealth has been slowly growing in popularity over the past few years, it is officially time for brokers to start paying more attention to this new model of care. Modern life is increasingly happening online, and health care delivery is no exception. You may say that your clients already have telehealth – it’s embedded in their health insurance plan. But here’s my question to you: how much is it being utilized?

If the answer is “not much” or “I don’t know”, that is a sign that you have an...

Every year, millions of Americans suffer from a mental illness. Anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder – they are much more prevalent than you might think. And the rates of mental illness and suicide are continuing to rise. Unfortunately, more than half of adults with a mental illness do not...

Nearly 85 percent of people with employer-provided health insurance in the United States have access to some level of telemedicine. But hardly any of them use it. Why is that? Many of the problems in this industry stem from a “check the box” mentality. Currently, most health insurers, employee benefits brokers, and employers have the mentality that being able to say that telemedicine is provided is sufficient. They are not closely evaluating the solutions and competitors. Unfortunately, this mindset has led to...

Is it possible to lower costs while maintaining a competitive benefits package? With healthcare and benefits costs skyrocketing, this is the challenge facing companies today. New wellness benefits bring promise, but how can companies be sure that they’ll deliver? Employers can’t afford to waste money. HR teams need to scrutinize every dollar spent on employee benefits, including new wellness programs. A wellness benefit that no one is using is just money down the drain. That’s why utilization is a top priority at...

Regarding Telemedicine and its benefits, phrases like “it’s included”, “no additional cost” or “free” may seem harmless, but should actually be major warning signs when coming from insurance carriers. These “free” benefits can end up costing your clients and their employees far more in the grand scheme of things - roughly $500,000 yearly for a 2,000-employee company. Let’s look at what your clients are getting from “free” benefits and the four reasons to avoid Telemedicine included in major medical...

Stress is costing US companies $300 billion every year due to increased healthcare costs and missed work days, according to Business Insider. Not to mention the impact of lower productivity, retention rates, and company morale. The costs of workplace stress has placed stress reduction as a top HR concern at many companies. In fact, 75% of US employers identified stress as their number one health and productivity concern according to a 2016 survey by Willis Towers Watson. Working parents are especially susceptible to high...

As health care costs for employers and employees have continued to grow, HR has struggled to find effective cost-containment solutions. While many employers have simply tried to shift costs and responsibility to employees, other employers have been looking for innovative solutions. In addition to telemedicine, one of the more popular ideas in recent years has been the implementation of on-site clinics. These clinics bring primary care to the workplace, making care more convenient and economical for employees. These clinics seem...

When it comes to a doctor’s visit, we all fool ourselves on the amount of time it takes. I’ll definitely be back for my 1 PM meeting or I can fit in an 8 AM appointment and not have to use any sick time. It almost never works that way. Traffic, waiting room lines, paperwork, and everything else all take time. You usually end up leaving hours later, wondering where the day went. So how long does getting medical care really take? Let’s take a look at how much time we spend at our current health care options for a common...

Are all telemedicine benefits the same? Why are some providers’ PEPM fees so much smaller? While it may seem like these companies are offering a comparable benefit at a much lower price, don’t be fooled by the tiny price tag. Unfortunately, these companies aren’t telling you the true value of their solution. To ensure you make the best decision for your company, you need to know what the telemedicine providers aren’t telling you in their sales pitch. Here are 4 things to watch out for when evaluating a low PEPM provider...

It's not rocket science that telemedicine can save your company money. But what would it look like if we took a deeper look at how those savings come together? We've created a simple info graphic to help you see how your telemedicine benefit lowers your bottom line. So even if you're new to the concept, you can see why so many are choosing to offer this service for their workforce's! Choosing to provide telemedicine for your employees is a no-brainer after you've seen the numbers. Reduce the number of ER, urgent care, and...

The priority of the majority of employers and their healthcare benefit administrators is preventing rising costs in healthcare. While medical, dental, and vision policies are included in benefits packages for every employee, the escalating costs within the industry might sway you to check out alternative programs and their quality benefits to offset a heavy financial hit. 

One option is a health plan with a high deductible. Employers are more commonly offering high-deductible health plans for their employees in an attempt to...

Health care costs are rising, and it seems like almost everyone is worried about it. It’s putting many employers in a tough situation, where they need to balance their bottom line and their employees’ well being. To attempt to control the rising cost of care for employers, they often try to shift more cost and responsibility to the employee. So how can companies continue to provide meaningful benefits to their employees? As employers shift costs, employees are struggling to pay for healthcare, and it could be...

TelaCare (www.TelaCare.com) is among one of the fastest growing telemedicine companies in the nation. Specializing in telephone and video medical consultations, providing access to affordable, convenient care from board certified doctors and pediatricians anywhere in the United States. TelaCare’s service allows members to quickly receive non-emergency care without having to wait to see a primary physician, urgent care clinic, or emergency room.

TelaCare is focusing on technology and user experience to fill the current gap...

We’ve all been there: sitting in the waiting room at an urgent care clinic, waiting and waiting for a doctor to prescribe you an antibiotic for what you already know you (or your child) have. Now imagine if instead of taking off work or using PTO to sit in a waiting room, you could simply call a doctor and have a prescription in hand in less than fifteen minutes.

Urgent care centers are great facilities for many medical problems. Fractures, concussions, and the need for stitches are all examples of issues best handled at an...

Remember what employee benefits meant 10 years ago? Most likely a healthcare program, a sweet 401k, and a parking spot - maybe a name plate if you were really lucky - and that was pretty much it. Then millennials entered the job market and everything shifted. Now, in 2016, the way businesses treat their employees has drastically changed. Google pays 20% time for work on outside projects, Evernote offers its staff house cleaning twice a month, and LinkedIn even has a stage for aspiring musicians. 

Sure, it would be nice to...

Every year during annual enrollment, you eat, drink, and breathe health care benefits. Then once annual enrollment is done, you probably stop thinking entirely about benefit implementations. But this would be a mistake. Sometimes ancillary benefits actually can and should be implemented off-cycle. Telemedicine is a great example. It’s an easy, money-saving program that can actually be beneficial to implement outside of the regular plan renewal period. Here are three reasons you should consider implementing...

Open enrollment is a stressful time of year for HR professionals. Rising healthcare costs, changing regulations, and uncertainty around the future of the ACA all make benefits increasingly complex. HR teams are tasked with simultaneously trying to cut costs and providing valuable benefits for employees. This is an almost impossible challenge. While the list of benefits concerns is long, cost containment, engagement, and specialty pharmacy are three of the top issues that HR professionals are stressing over this year.

Cost...

From passing stomach bugs to letting their little noses run wild, kids might as well be walking, talking germ bombs, racking up those school sick days like they're collecting Pokémon. Even worse, some 39% of mothers end up also taking sick days in order to care for their wee ones. If you feel like you're taking your kid to the doctor's office as much as you are soccer games or gymnastics practice, perhaps it's time to focus on fighting the illnesses that can keep our children from sitting at their desks and learning. And...

How did your last telemedicine implementation go? What kind of results did or are you getting? Do you even really know what results you are getting? With most providers, you were probably given access to an online repository of fliers and brochures to use. All the human resources department had to do was pick something, download it, and send it to employees. Seems easy, right? But when you got the reports back on usage, you may have noticed the results weren’t great.

A Few Canned Emails Isn’t Enough

For many employees,...

TelaCare has the leading utilization rate in the telemedicine industry. How do we do it? By creating and implementing a highly effective, customized engagement program for you and your employees to increase awareness and engagement. That means our clients save more, with less work for their human resources departments. In fact, we’re so certain of our solution and implementation that we even offer a savings guarantee. For our self-funded clients, we guarantee that the money saved from diverted health care visits will be...

As you sort through various vendors in of search of employee benefits, it's important to be aware of their sales pitch. For you, asking detailed questions, double-checking on references, and evaluating the numbers should all be a part of the process. Since many vendors offer similar benefits to one another, their biggest competition factor relies on the price. So, how can you tell if that one company offering a surprisingly low price is really too good to be true?

This is exactly what telemedicine companies offering low PEPMs...

You wouldn't buy electronics from the dollar store, right? Of course not, because you know the old saying is always true - you get what you pay for. Not only does cheaper often translate to poorer quality, but it only ends up costing you more money in the long run from having to replace that terrible product that doesn't last as long or as well as the more expensive alternative.

The same logic applies to telemedicine. What's often said by employers to their consultants is that there are benefits included in major medical plans at...

FISHERS, Ind., Dec. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- StickyJ Medical ID (affectionately known by many as StickyJ) was founded in 2000 by Lori Torman with the goal of selling personalized photo pins that could hold a sticky-back photo. StickyJ mixes fashion and style with function and purpose as one of the foremost e-retailers of contemporary medical emergency bracelets, awareness jewelry and licensed designs for men, women, boys and girls. StickJ is committed to helping people protect themselves without feeling branded by their...

It’s probably not news to you that telemedicine is starting to revolutionize healthcare. Many of your clients may have implemented plans, and you’ve likely seen the presentations by big medical insurers. But you may have also seen that many of these plans aren’t delivering on their promises. 

But telemedicine is still changing. Face-to-face interactions have decreased in almost all industries, and medicine is certainly next. Better cellular networks and wifi hotspots and the increase in smartphones and tablets makes...

It's that time of year every employer dreads - flu season! It's an inevitable fact that folks around the office will get sick and have to take time off of work, losing valuable productivity time for the company. But just how big of an issue are employee sick days and what is the overall impact it can have on an employer?

THE NUMBERS

In 2015, workers in the United States took off an average of 4.9 sick days. That doesn't seem like too big of a problem until you consider that number applied to, say, a company of 1,000 employees....

FISHERS, Ind., Oct. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TelaCare, a national telemedicine technology and services company, announced today that it has added a life-saving medical ID system in addition to its telehealth and counseling services on TelaCare, one of the fastest growing telemedicine companies. TelaCare's new ViewMyID medical ID system is the easiest way to access, store, and manage patient's health information for easy access in an emergency. Patients profiles can be accessed anytime, anywhere via TelaCare's products...

Making healthcare affordable and convenient is a priority for many employers. And when looking for new and different offerings, onsite clinics and telemedicine programs may be top of mind. While both programs have their benefits, employers should consider their goals, priorities, and limitations before choosing one of these solutions over another. 

Ease and Availability

Onsite clinics: Onsite clinics allow employees to easily and quickly visit a physician during the workday, with minimal time away from work. If appointments...

FISHERS, Ind., Sept. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TelaCare, one of the fastest growing telemedicine companies, announced today that it has added unlimited access to board certified Pharmacists, Dentists, Optometrists, Dietitians, Sports Medicine and Alternative Medicine professionals. These specialties will provide unlimited no additional cost consultations in addition to its telehealth services on TelaCare, one of the fastest growing telemedicine companies. Patients can now easily get their medical questions answered in an array of...

2016 is almost officially upon us, and a new year means a fresh start. For most people, it's all about setting resolutions and goals to kick-start some positive changes. Meanwhile, many folks were overcome with a different emotion once the clock struck midnight - one of worry. 

Just as sure as New Years is welcomed with the festive sounds of cheers and Auld Lang Syne, health plan deductibles also reset. For all of your employees who elected HDHP’s late last year, now is the time for them to open up those wallets if...

FISHERS, Ind., Aug. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TelaCare, a national telehealth technology and services company, announced today that it has added behavioral health services in addition to its telehealth services on TelaCare, one of the fastest growing telemedicine companies according to Telemedicine Magazine. Patients can now speak to U.S. board-certified counselors on the TelaCare app via scheduled appointments. They're finding doctors who can treat them at any time and any place, in the comfort of their own homes –...

Benefit renewal time is extremely busy - just talk to any overworked HR employee or benefits consultant! With contract renewals, benefits planning, and open enrollments, telemedicine can sometimes get ignored or forgotten. While it may not seem as important as the other pieces of a medical plan, an effective telemedicine program is a low-cost, high-ROI benefit that is truly appreciated by employees.

Luckily, telemedicine can actually be implemented year-round. So even if you missed it during this year's enrollment cycle, you...

Is telemedicine just a box that you check as you go over your client’s medical plans? Do you even know the benefit your clients’ telemedicine plan is providing, and, more importantly, do your clients know it’s value? Measuring the benefit of telemedicine can seem difficult, but it really all comes down to one number: the utilization rate.  

Utilization rate is an indicator of dollars saved and employee satisfaction. It’s an easy to understand, easy to communicate, easy to remember number. In short, it’s the magic...

Seeing a doctor when you are sick can be a hassle. First, you have to figure out where to go. Then you have to get there, register, wait, pay, hopefully see a doctor in under an hour or two, and then finally get home via the pharmacy, which hopefully has a drive-thru option. Now imagine a world where you don’t have to leave your house to access a doctor, you don’t have to wait and you don’t even have to pay a co-pay.

Believe it or not, this world actually exists in the U.S. today. TelaCare allows patients to access a...

Telemedicine benefits aren’t just a passing employee benefits trend. More than 80% of large employers surveyed by Towers Watson say they will offer a telemedicine benefit by 2018. As a result, carriers are offering telemedicine in their major medical plans. Your clients might have the opportunity to choose their carrier’s telemedicine benefit–but before you promote this option for its convenience, it’s essential to remember that carrier-provided telemedicine and employer-provided options are much, much...

I sit here and I wonder why more are not using telemedicine? There is nothing on the market like it! Wellness programs, onsite clinics, whatever else on top of a health plan you have is fine but they typically do not provide 24/7/365 access to a national network of U.S. board-certified doctors.

Telemedicine is a simple tool, very little paperwork, next to no admin work, and it lowers the number of claims, it is a non-insurance product and I hope it stays that way. So if there is a product that can lower claims, lower cost,...

Years of data have demonstrated the benefits of telemedicine. It reduces costs, improves access to services, and eliminates the lost productivity that results from traveling to and from health care appointments. The data has swayed corporations, insurance companies, and even government agencies to contract with telemedicine services. Recently, thanks to insight on the part of government health payers and insurance companies, it has become possible for telemedicine companies to offer mental health services, making it easier...

If you you've been laboring under the impression that telemedicine is something that primarily applies to radiologists and a few surgeons who operate robots, then you probably haven't talked to Micheal Sharp, the communications director at TelaCare. If you do, he'll tell you all about the telemedicine kiosks that TelaCare manufactures. From wall-mounted stations in private rooms to soundproof structures with enough medical equipment inside to make a doctor on the Starship Enterprise jealous, kiosks are being installed in...

Companies are selling telemedicine to businesses as a commodity. It’s all about who can sell it to you at the lowest price. Has anyone ever thought about how many employees actually setup their account or even use it? I wonder if the $2-$3 price point is a good deal? Companies are finding that it is NOT the great deal they once thought it was. If you look at the ROI you will find that most of the employees never setup the account and even fewer use it…why? The answer is... you bought into a product/service for a great...

Savvy, successful telemedicine programs are always marketing from selling the proven benefits of telemedicine to gain initial support, to later touting the experienced, measurable impact of telemedicine to drive continued usage and expansion. Before a telemedicine program gets started, understand the concerns of the parties whose support is ultimately needed for the program to fly. Understand their concerns and objectives and deliver a message and solution that incents them to support telemedicine in their company. After the...

Industry experts estimate that by 2018, 80 percent of employers will be offering a telemedicine benefit to their employees. To uncover what’s behind this growth, and to gain an understanding of employer involvement with and perceptions of telemedicine, American Well, creator of the Amwell telemedicine app, conducted a broad survey. They invited companies of all sizes, from small organizations with fewer than 1,000 employees to large companies with over 20,000 employees. They heard from companies across a variety...

You worked hard with your clients to develop strategic benefits plans that took into consideration both their needs and their company culture. This wasn’t a simple process with the current state of healthcare and its rising costs. Insurance costs are up nearly 70% in the last 10 years, and it’s no easy task to be a broker these days. You want to see the fruits of your labor by seeing the employees use the benefits to not only make their lives better, but drive savings for your clients. Without high utilization, your...

One of the biggest changes consumers will deal with in the future are those brought about by the Affordable Care Act. With its enactment, as many as 30 million people will become eligible for health insurance. As a result, wait times to see a doctor will grow along with the higher patient volume. This works in favor of practicing physicians but sets up a barrier to health care for employees that need it.

The type of health care plans employers is choosing for employees is also changing. More employers are opting for plans with...

For better or worse, social media is a major channel through which clients and potential clients learn about a company. In telemedicine, it is tempting to think that customers and prospective clients don't want to connect on social media, the reality is that many do. Ignoring social media simply is not an option for any business. Smart use of social media, however, can produce new client connections, strengthen existing relationships, and improve utilization rates. All of that translates into increased revenue and happier...

Telemedicine is a great way to save money and provide employees with a convenient way to manage their health. It is also a term that strikes fear into the hearts of human resources directors. Like any benefit, telemedicine only saves employers money if employees utilize it. Believe it or not, the industry-wide average utilization rate is just under 5% and there are some companies with utilization rates as low as 1%. This fact terrifies finance executives, who know that a low utilization rates means that telemedicine...

Marketing follows the same rules regardless of the industry. Whether a company is selling widgets at rock-bottom prices or offering a unique service like telemedicine companies do, the rules are always the same. Unfortunately, a quick walk through any conference, like the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference, reveals a problem in the telemedicine industry - a glut of "me-too" marketing.

Sure, the technology on display is amazing and some of the products will be top of mind, but will people...

Telemedicine services are designed to reduce medical costs, but some employers don't see the benefit because they are paying more than $500 for every employee visit. That price is well above what even traditional medical care costs. Why does this happen? More importantly, how does it impact a company's bottom line and how can we change it?

If employees aren't utilizing the service, it will simply be overhead with no return. Surprisingly, not all telemedicine services have low utilization rates. In fact, some have rates as...

There has been much written lately about telemedicine, and thanks to the efficient and progressive nature of the technology, the majority of that literature has been positive. However, many still wonder what it all means. Yes, telemedicine can improve inefficiencies, reduce re-hospitalizations, and save money for the healthcare system, but is it actually helping patients? The short answer is yes, especially those patients with chronic conditions who require regular monitoring, consultation and education.

When I was a kid, we...

Companies are selling telemedicine to businesses as a commodity. It’s all about who can sell it to you at the lowest price. Has anyone ever thought about how many employees actually setup their account or even use it? I wonder if the $3 price point is a good deal? Companies are finding that it is NOT the great deal they once thought it was. If you look at the ROI you will find that most of the employees never setup the account and even fewer use it…why? The answer is... you bought into a product/service for a great...

The family care/urgent care industry is a diverse playing field where innovative leaders have built successful models to address the demand for convenient, cost-effective and patient care. This overview focuses on the telemedicine industry—a service model gaining great interest in this time of change and innovation.

What is telemedicine?

Telemedicine, which uses technology and mobile devices to connect patients for real time consultations, is adding a new dimension to healthcare. It offers an alternative, affordable and...

We are seeing more employers turning to telemedicine than ever before. There are many reasons.

• There is a national shortage of physicians
• There are more people getting insured, exacerbating the shortage even more
• Employers are shifting more cost to their employees through HDHP plans. Telemedicine provides a lower cost alternative for common primary care services.
• Companies are focused on "managing risk" and using telemedicine as a great alternative to expensive urgent care and ERs.

Read More

We tend to take the Internet for granted. The changes that it has brought about in society have made us all wonder how we ever lived without the constant connection, access to information, and speed of service that the Internet provides. Thanks to the Internet, our lives are more convenient and richer than ever. Telemedicine services are now bringing the convenience (and cost savings) of the Internet to the health care industry.

Interacting with the medical establishment takes both time and money, two major problems that...

Companies are selling Telemedicine to businesses as a commodity. It’s all about who can sell it to you at the lowest price. Has anyone ever thought about how many employees actually setup their account or even use it? I wonder if the $3 price point is a good deal? Companies are finding that it is NOT the great deal they once thought it was. If you look at the ROI you will find that most of the employees never setup the account and even fewer use it…why? The answer is... you bought into a product/service for a great...

In America, efforts to maintain a healthy society are being challenged by population growth, rising healthcare costs, a lack of access to medical facilities and a serious shortage of physicians that is expected to exceed 100,000 in the coming years. TelaCare is tackling these daunting problems by providing a breakthrough solution that unites healthcare providers and patients in a remarkable new way. With help from INTERSTAR Media, LLC and Vidyo, we've created a new turnkey Telemedicine system that provides a complete practice...

Telemedicine is a growing force in the health care industry, driven by consumer demand for fast and affordable health care. Consumers and employers alike are searching for cost-effective health care solutions that are easy to access. Telemedicine fills this void in the health care marketplace. Telemedicine technology is nothing new. It’s been around for over forty years. Hospitals and home health care services were among the first to adopt it. Telemedicine makes it possible to connect health care providers with patients...

Love them or hate them, Millennials are about to be the biggest living adult generation in the United States. And they have a completely different view of healthcare than generations before. I’m personally part of Generation X – a generation that firmly believes in annual physical check up with a primary care physician that we’ve likely seen for years. We don’t question our doctors or challenge their recommendations. We have a list of specialists and maybe even a mental health professional. Then there are the...