How to adapt and provide valuable benefits post pandemic

Adaptability is quite simply a crucial skill as the world moves through the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has turned the healthcare landscape upside down. Organizations of all sizes are working frantically to adapt and ensure their workforce is well-equipped to maintain a healthy day-to-day.

Traditional care is left in the dust as virtual solutions make their way front and center. Fewer people want to enter high-risk areas, let alone leave their homes unnecessarily and digital health is able to bring care directly into their home. People and organizations alike are quickly recognizing the convenience and benefits of virtual solutions and do not want to go back to traditional in-person treatments after the pandemic.

When adapting to the new healthcare landscape and the increased interest in digital health, it’s time to take action and prepare for the future. Leading by example is the CMS, who announced a rule change to expand coverage of telehealth services to support patients during the pandemic. These changes added to existing codes related to physical therapy and various other services that can be delivered via telehealth. Following that announcement, there was an influx of physical therapists going virtual.

Adaptability is essential to your organization

So, let’s cut to the chase — remote care is here to stay. Now, what are you going to do about it?

As we said, organizations are adapting and working on benefits that people will actually use, want and also benefit from. One of the two largest cost drivers, making it a top priority for many of these businesses, is musculoskeletal (MSK) care, without proper care you are left with employees with aches, pains and reduced productivity.

For some, adapting means increased care in one area, such as mental health, or the inclusion of more virtual care solutions. What you do in the coming months to take care of your population will be crucial and set the stage for years to come. By understanding their pain, and making actionable changes, you’ll see an improvement in overall morale, and you’ll get ahead of a growing (and painful) issue.

Adding virtual MSK care to your benefits package simultaneously allows businesses to tackle and reduce high care costs, all while improving benefit offerings across the organization. Care should be accessible and convenient, allowing workforces to get the right care, at the right time, and avoid unnecessary procedures such as injections, surgeries and prescribed opioids.

Adaptation is key, but having a forward-thinking mentality is equally important. We don’t know how the industry will evolve, however, according to Scott Galloway, Pivot Podcast Co-Host, Professor of Marketing NYU, stated during the early pandemic months, “the world has accelerated 10 years in 8 weeks.”

Where to start

We’ve done the groundwork for you. In July, Physera took the digital stage to discuss how to adapt and enhance benefits leading to the post COVID era. In a lively discussion with Milt Ezzard of Activision Blizzard, Todd Norwood, Physera’s Director of Clinical Services, peeled back the layers of why Activision Blizzard’s progressive benefit’s package includes virtual MSK care and the results.

You can access the full Employee Benefit News/Employee Benefit Adviser webinar, and learn more about:

• How innovative companies are meeting the virtual care needs of their employees
• The clinical benefits and cost savings of virtual care solutions experienced by a Fortune 500 company
• How employers can adapt and implement a virtual MSK solution (in a week) to reduce employee pain at home or in the office post COVID-19
• How to promote and increase engagement with virtual care solutions in a comprehensive benefits offering

Watch the webinar here.