Five Reasons Why Asynchronous Telemedicine is Better for Women
First, what is asynchronous telemedicine? Unlike an in-person doctor’s visit or a video conference with a healthcare provider, getting care asynchronously takes place at any time, and on any schedule. It’s a little like streaming a movie on-demand, versus going to a theater at a specific time and place. When it comes to healthcare with Hello Alpha, it works like this:
- You can start a visit and submit your health information online, for over 100 medical conditions. For example, if you wake up with a migraine, you can start a visit for this condition and send your health information on our platform while having coffee.
- Your provider will review your health information within 8 hours, but usually less and follow-up with you. Your provider might ask you a few more questions, or send you a personalized treatment plan with a prescription, if appropriate.
- You’ll receive your treatment plan, and if it includes a prescription, we can send it to the local pharmacy of your choice or ship it to you. Your migraine treatment is either on its way, or ready to be picked up that evening.
There are many benefits to asynchronous healthcare, like convenience, affordability, and privacy. At Hello Alpha, we chose an asynchronous care model for our virtual primary care medical clinic because it offers unique benefits for women, who face some of the highest barriers to healthcare. Here are 5 reasons why asynchronous care is better for women, and how it dismantles those barriers.
- Asynchronous telemedicine is 24/7 and appointment free
One of the immediate benefits of asynchronous telemedicine is that patients can start a visit on their time–whether that’s during a lunch break or late at night. There’s no need for an appointment or to wait for business hours. Whether it’s a common, everyday health condition, like a UTI, or a follow-up for a mental health condition, a patient can start accessing care on their schedule. This is especially important for women, who often shoulder caregiving responsibilities in addition to their careers. Asynchronous telemedicine is healthcare that fits into busy women’s lives, instead of having women reschedule their lives around healthcare.
2. Asynchronous telemedicine is private and discreet
Although progress is being made, many women’s health conditions remain stigmatized and difficult to discuss in person. With asynchronous telemedicine, patients have more privacy: they can submit their health information or questions to a provider without sitting in a waiting room or having to bring up an uncomfortable topic face-to-face, whether in a doctor’s office or on a video screen.
Stigma isn’t limited to women’s health. In some communities, seeking support for mental health is seen as a weakness or unnecessary. Many who would benefit from receiving mental health care feel shame, and taking the first step in person can be overwhelming. In an asynchronous telemedicine setting, patients can take screenings and send questions to a provider with less fear of judgment. For women–who are twice as likely to experience depression or anxiety–a private way to access support can make a positive impact on their quality of life.
3. Asynchronous telemedicine eliminates common sources of implicit bias at the doctor’s office.
Implicit bias is a type of bias that occurs automatically or unintentionally, but influences judgments and decisions about someone or a group of people. An example is when someone hears the word “surgeon,” they might picture a white man. Implicit bias exists in daily life, including at the doctor’s office. BIPOC, women, and people with disabilities or a stigmatized health condition are more likely to experience the negative effects of implicit bias. For example, people with higher weight may feel unwelcome in a waiting room that isn’t furnished with appropriate chairs. Implicit bias can also affect the quality of care that patients receive. One study demonstrated that nearly half of white medical students and residents believed the false notion that Black people’s skin is thicker than white people’s. This affects the way some healthcare professionals treat and perceive Black patients’ pain.
When a patient seeks care asynchronously, there’s no discomfort in the waiting room and exam room. Patients’ appearances or style of dress are not the focus of the visit–the focus is on what the patient shares and why they’re seeking medical care.
To be clear, we believe it is necessary for the medical community as a whole to address the disparities in care that many communities face, too. An asynchronous care model is one way to improve the patient experience and address healthcare access, but everyone deserves high-quality healthcare no matter who they are and how they receive care.
4. Asynchronous telemedicine empowers patients and providers to be partners.
In-person doctor’s visits often feel rushed. The average in-person primary care visit is only 13–16 minutes. (And that’s significantly shorter than the average time spent in a waiting room, which is 41 minutes.) This limited communication time often results in patients receiving instruction that is impersonal or hard to follow. It can also limit a patient’s ability to self-advocate, especially when they’re put on the spot to ask a question within the next few seconds. Less time to communicate means that there’s a higher likelihood of misunderstandings. A recent study concluded that even common medical phrases were frequently misunderstood by adult patients.
For women, who face higher rates of medical gaslighting or having their symptoms dismissed, building a trusting relationship with a provider is a key part of their health journey. Asynchronous telemedicine keeps communication open between patients and providers. It allows for patients to send a message any time they have a health concern or a question. Providers get to know a patient’s preferences and how to best educate them in a way that minimizes confusion.
5. Women are the chief medical officers of their families
There are many reasons why married men live longer than their single counterparts–and one of them is because the women in their lives tend to promote healthy behaviors. That includes important actions like getting annual physicals. When women receive preventive healthcare, they’re likely to share that education and get their family members involved with making positive health changes. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women make 80% of the healthcare decisions in their households. Although women take this leading role for their families, the traditional healthcare system treats them as an afterthought. Asynchronous telemedicine is changing that, with an innovative way to receive care that removes the physical and social barriers.
Making asynchronous telemedicine for women’s unique needs gives women the chance to put their health first–while having a ripple effect for their loved ones. It is this resilience and incredible impact that women make for those around them that inspired Hello Alpha. When we make healthcare that truly works for women, we unlock their undeniable, unfiltered magic.
