Through digital healthcare technology, everyday devices like smartphones can conveniently transform into tools to find and use health resources wherever and whenever they are needed. Digital healthcare offers the ability to access continuous behavioral health support — including scheduling and location flexibility — and is a valuable benefit employers can provide to help their workforce meet life’s challenges.
Industry leaders, including behavioral health companies like Carelon, are working diligently to leverage technology to bridge care gaps and deliver real-time support. “One of the challenges with behavioral health is that you have a visit with your practitioner and then you have another one a week later, a month later, or two months later, and there’s a lot of white space in between. And that’s where life occurs,” said Dr. Gary Proctor, Regional Chief Medical Officer for Carelon Behavioral Health. “Knowing what happens in that white space between appointments is very valuable information for that person’s care plan.”
Address Social Drivers Of Health With Digital Healthcare
Nearly half of all Americans live in an area facing a mental health workforce shortage, with two-thirds of the shortage found in rural areas. This shortage can make it more challenging to find behavioral health specialists and mental healthcare providers, and where a person lives may make it even harder.
Other social drivers of health include access to transportation and even limited availability for appointments given work and other commitments. This is where in-home therapy, tele-behavioral health, and other virtual mental health solutions can be a crucial bridge to provide access to care. The key is finding ways to provide support where people live and work instead of requiring they pursue care in-person, particularly if they are already trying to work through a health challenge.
Provide Continuous Behavioral Health Support
Another advantage of digital healthcare is that support goes beyond in-person appointments. Round-the-clock resources, care, and communication is possible with a digital front door like Anthem’s SydneySM Health app. Asynchronous chat and messaging can supplement scheduled appointments, letting people communicate about their care while also juggling work, child care, and other demands of daily life.
Digitally enabled healthcare includes other tools like chatbots, assessments, exercises, videos, and articles, which make it easier for people to communicate how they are doing in real-time, while also getting the resources they need to manage their health. Remote tests and expert-designed mobile games can shed light on how a person is doing. These are much easier to work in throughout a busy day versus time off for an in-person appointment. Virtual conveniences also mean that people are more likely to use these resources and pursue the care they need.
What’s even better: people can choose the digital healthcare tools that work for them. Each person may have a different level of comfort with or access to technology, so providing a range of options empowers people to choose what fits best.
Offer Enhanced Insights And Better Care
Since digital healthcare can be accessed anywhere 24/7, real-time assessments and advanced innovations open the door to more precise care and better health outcomes. Through Anthem’s network with behavioral health providers like Alma, Aware, Charlie, Headway, Talkspace, Vita, and Valera, there is an expanded number of support options available for each person. To further maximize network impact, partners like Anthem evaluate and broaden access to care with providers specializing in areas like online therapy, eating disorder treatment, and psychiatry for adolescents and teens.
Not only do these enhancements increase the number of virtual healthcare options available, but they also increase the number of specialists that each person can access — independent of where they live or what transportation options they have.
Considering that more than one in five Americans struggles with some form of mental illness, emphasizing the need for behavioral support is important for everyone. Organizations need to consider both the needs of their employees and their loved ones. For example, employees with children may thrive if they can find supportive resources in their benefits plan, particularly given that almost half of all teens have a mental health concern, yet only about 20% receive care.
By strengthening access to behavioral support for both employees and their families, employers can help move the needle toward improved whole-health support — and lower overall costs of care.
Appointments are subject to availability of a therapist and health plan availability. Online counseling is not appropriate for all kinds of problems. If you are in a crisis or have suicidal thoughts, it’s important that you seek help immediately. Please call 988 (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) and ask for help. If your issue is an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Sydney Health is offered through an arrangement with Carelon Digital Platforms, a separate company offering mobile application services on behalf of your health plan.