With the rise in healthcare consumerism, patients demand access to the highest level of care and the latest technology. Guided Healthcare and navigation is central to this trend, and with it the use of convenient apps to deliver top quality care in a way that’s both easy and comfortable for patients.
Patients can harness the value of the latest healthcare technologies from their tablets and smartphones in the comfort of their own homes or on-the-go without having to stop at a doctor’s office. Healthcare apps can connect them with doctors, help them track wellness and even save money on prescriptions. Here are some of the most popular apps to look out for in healthcare today:
Doctor on Demand
Doctor on Demand is a telemedicine app available online and through the Apple and Android app stores. This app facilitates live video doctor visits with board-certified physicians. These virtual visits provide users with assessment, diagnosis and even prescriptions when necessary.
While doctors can treat many ailments through Doctors on Demand, the most common conditions include cold and flu, sore throat, skin issues and rashes, sports injuries, and travel-related illnesses. Patients can also contact mental health professionals to help treat depression, addiction, or workplace stress.
This service comes at costs similar to seeing a doctor in person, and all without leaving the comfort of home. Virtual visits with a medical doctor cost $75 each. Mental health assessments start at $79 for a 25-minute session with a psychologist up to $229 for the first session with a psychiatrist.
Telemedicine in general is taking the healthcare industry by storm. From stroke diagnosis in urban emergency rooms to general care in remote rural communities, patients around the world are benefitting from this cutting-edge development.
OneRx
Prescription costs have skyrocketed for many Americans, particularly those people managing chronic conditions. First generation disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for multiple sclerosis (MS), for example, can cost $60,000 per year. Even more common conditions, like hypertension, can cost patients hundreds of dollars per year.
Free apps like OneRx provide a prescription pricing service to help find the lowest price for medication in the user’s area. OneRx takes into account insurance to find co-pays and any applicable restrictions before users go to the pharmacy. The app also lets users know if coupons or discounts are available, meaning even the uninsured can realize substantial cost savings.
HealthVault
Securely storing medical files can be a challenge for medical offices. For businesses and consumers it can be downright frustrating.
Microsoft’s HealthVault helps solve this problem by storing documents on the cloud. Users can decide who can access and see their files. HealthVault also allows users to easily track health data from activity trackers, smart watches, blood glucose monitors and more.
This technology helps healthcare consumers take control of their health and consolidate data in one convenient cloud-based location. For doctors, the consolidated data provides a comprehensive look at a patient’s health, including treatments done outside of a doctor's office (if shared by the patient).
Fitbit
The best way to avoid getting sick is to take care of yourself with proper exercise, sleep and nutrition. With the rise of healthcare consumerism and corporations taking a more active role in their employee’s healthcare, people are increasingly cognizant of their health and what they’re putting into their bodies. Apps like Fitbit have made tracking this data easier and more clear.
With Fitbit, fitness tracking moves beyond the gym and into every facet of users’ lives. Users can track their progress and learn where they can make changes to increase fitness levels.
Apps like Fitbit and the others listed above tie into the trend that consumers are craving more input on their healthcare journey. They expect to be informed and remain a critical part of the healthcare process, which is why guided healthcare and navigation are becoming an essential component of healthcare.
The guided healthcare model keeps stakeholders informed and ensures the delivery of the best possible care for the patient. More specifically, with guided healthcare, all healthcare providers working with a particular patient share important clinical information and have clear, shared expectations about their roles.
Novo Connection empowers employers to get the most out of their health benefit plans. Our extraordinary program combines guided healthcare with the best solutions in the industry. Contact us to discuss how to proactively manage your group health plan, better utilize technology, and reduce wasteful spending.
Posted by: Melissa Saturnino