Appleton, WI (PRWEB) April 30, 2013
A U.S.-based third party administrator (TPA), Cypress Benefit Administrators is offering its employer clients and their employees added convenience with a virtual healthcare program. In 2012, the American Telemedicine Association estimated that more than 10 million Americans directly benefited from telemedicine services, more than double the number just three years ago.
This innovative technology introduces a whole new level of access to care available to Cypress clients who can now experience more effective physician access through 24/7 remote care for common conditions. Cypress Benefit Administrators partners with Consult A Doctor to deploy their market-leading, cloud-based telemedicine solution. Consult A Doctor has conducted over 200,000 consults to-date, and based on post-consult surveys, 96% of members are very satisfied with the service.
In addition to high customer satisfaction rates, reports also illustrate that 66% of unnecessary doctor and emergency room visits can be avoided with a phone or online consultation.
The flexible features allow members to interact with a physician through secure, HIPAA-compliant connections. They can share any questions or concerns and receive prompt, same-day guidance from a board-certified doctor. For members who think they might need a prescription, a doctor will call them back within about 12 minutes – one hour guaranteed.
Along with having physician access through a few simple clicks, members can also utilize a personalized health manager portal that includes interactive wellness tools, a symptom checker and a complete resource guide covering all types of medical conditions. A member dashboard allows members to store their medical records and receive health alerts, too. “As a result of healthcare reform, telemedicine emerged as a hot topic, and now the entire healthcare market has caught on to its efficiency and convenience to handle medical issues in an easier, faster, more cost-appropriate setting that elicits better outcomes,” said Wolf Shlagman, founder and CEO of Consult A Doctor.
Tom Doney, president and co-founder of Cypress, further explained that the added online features benefit both employers and their employees. “Being able to connect with a doctor by email or video chat in addition to phone really maximizes anytime access for the member and reduces overall claim costs and lost productivity for the employer,” Doney said. “There are positives for everyone involved.”
By using telemedicine for non-emergency care situations, Doney said many common in-office frustrations can be avoided altogether – lack of after-hours availability, the inability to schedule timely appointments and excess travel to and from medical centers. “Members can get the care they need, when they need it. The barriers that typically interfere with prompt in-office care aren’t a factor with telemedicine.”
Since starting business in 2000, Cypress Benefit Administrators, a privately held company headquartered in Appleton, WI, has evolved into more than a third party administrator (TPA) by pioneering the way toward cost containment in healthcare as the country’s first TPA to bring claims administration, consumer-driven health plans and proven cost control measures together into one package. Its customized employee benefit packages combine an appropriate mix of health insurance options that allow for adaptability to the ever-changing healthcare environment and that make sense for employers of 50 to 18,000 throughout the United States.
Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/4/prweb10686993.htm
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