Gone are the days when only a portion of the Canadian population was able to receive health care in the evening or on weekends without going to the emergency room. Nowadays, employees can access medical services using their smartphones and tablets. By opting for text messaging or video conferencing, your employees and their family members can avoid long waits to see a health care professional. Telehealth is more in demand than ever on the labour market!    

A simple application to ensure a continuum of care 

In just a few clicks on a secure application, you can connect with a nurse who will carry out a virtual assessment to address your health concerns instantly, if possible. If your condition requires a consultation with a physician, one will attend to you in a secure video conference call at the appropriate time.  

This application saves your employees and their families valuable time. 

Some telehealth providers also offer the services of “super nurses” who can prescribe medication immediately and send your prescription to the pharmacy of your choice. Talk about efficient! No more long waits to deal with common concerns such as sinusitis, hemorrhoids, gastroenteritis, constipation, tendonitis, muscle pain, vaginitis, insomnia, common viruses, nasal congestion, stomach aches, travel health services (vaccine prescriptions), urinary tract infections, prescription renewals and consultation requests (physiotherapy, massage therapy, diagnostic tests, MRIs), among others things. 

Telehealth is good for business  

Telehealth is part of a winning strategy to better meet employee needs and is becoming a must-have in employee benefits packages. It’s a powerful and easily accessible prevention tool. Your employees’ children and spouses will also have access to it, at no extra cost. 

Offering quick access to health care is also a huge plus when it comes to attracting new candidates or retaining existing staff.  

Same-day or next-day appointments 

The Commonwealth Fund International Survey revealed that Canadians have more difficulty obtaining same-day or next-day appointments and accessing care outside regular consultation hours. Canada is falling behind when it comes to access to primary care. Below is a table from the study outlining the changes in access to care from 2016 to 2023. 

2023 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey on health care experiences of the general population aged 18 and older in 10 high-income countries 

According to the study, 26% of Canadian adults reported that they were able to get a same-day or next-day appointment to see a physician or nurse the last time they were sick or in need of medical attention. In 2016, that figure was 46%, and the CMWF average was 60% versus 42% in 2023. 

Offering 24/7 access to an on-call health care professional will definitely set you apart from the competition, especially given the current labour shortages and retention issues.  

Things to consider in offering telehealth services 

A number of factors must be considered before including telehealth in your benefits package, such as the range of services offered, service availability, the quality of the application, the organization’s longevity and, above all, the provider’s bilingual offerings. Another important point to consider is that if the provider you choose consistently refers patients to clinics or the emergency room, you may end up with the opposite effect to what you intended. Your employees will feel like they’re paying for a simple health information line. That’s why choosing a reputable, reliable company is a must. 

Offering telehealth services that can be used without insurance could be beneficial for employees who are not covered by the company’s insurance plan, as they will also be able to use the service.  

The total cost is calculated on a monthly basis according to the number of employees in the organization. Access to the service is unlimited. Typically, it costs less than $6 per employee per month. That’s a bargain considering the added value it will bring to your business! 

Getting organizations to make the most of the services they have access to is another way we achieve our mission of Caring Differently About People.