SAN FRANCISCO - Telemedicine provider Doctor On Demand on Thursday announced that it has signed its 400th employer customer, bringing the total number of Americans covered by the service by their employers or health plans to more than 45 million.
“Doctor On Demand allows us to provide our employees with access to top-quality physicians, nearly instantly, no matter where they are. For us, that means fewer visits to the emergency room, quicker treatment of routine illnesses and reduced absenteeism - all cost-drivers,” stated David Olsen, director benefits, Lennox International.
Doctor On Demand offers Video Visits with physicians and psychologists, delivered through patients’ smartphones or computers in an easy-to-use application. Employers can integrate the telemedicine service with any health plan they currently use, and there are no up-front costs, PEPM fees or subscription fees.
“Visiting the doctor no longer requires going to an office and sitting in a waiting room,” said Adam Jackson, CEO of Doctor On Demand. “Insurers and employers are turning to telemedicine to help reduce health care costs while delivering the highest quality care, and Doctor On Demand is thrilled to be leading the revolution in how health care is delivered.”
Telemedicine is growing rapidly, and with about half of all Americans relying on their employer for health care coverage, employers are taking notice. According to a survey by global HR firm Towers Watson, 71% of employers plan to give their employees access to telemedicine in the next three years, which would represent a more than tripling from the 22% of employers who offer telemedicine today.
According to the health care consultancy IHS, the telemedicine market is expected to grow to $4.5 billion by 2018.