It’s hard to find an area of our lives the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t touched. Globally we are seeing rapid pivots to new ways of interacting and how we receive healthcare has changed dramatically as well. There’s been an increased demand for telemedicine and virtual mental healthcare. Benefits managers are heeding calls from employees to expand care for physical and mental health needs.
Within a matter of weeks, physically visiting a doctor’s office or emergency room became a tough decision for many. The fear of the risk of infection prevented many from routine visits, so Americans embraced telemedicine options as a worry-free solution. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic created this surge in telemedicine interest, virtual care was gaining in popularity as a way to help control costs and provide access to care.
