Virtual Healthcare Is On the Rise, as Well as Widespread Delays in Specialty Care - New Study by Summus Global and the HR Research Institute

Two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual care has become a standard healthcare option among today's companies. In fact, fully 93% of HR professionals said their organization offers access to virtual care, and about a third of them said their company had started to provide that care within the last two years.

The free research infographic, Virtual Care 2021-22, displaying findings and insights for the Virtual Care Pulse Survey, is now available for download. HR.com's HR Research Institute and Summus Global conducted the study of HR professionals to investigate a range of virtual healthcare topics and provide guidance and recommendations to employers to help them improve their virtual care and telehealth offerings and features.

The study found that 88% of respondents have seen an increase in demand for such care since 2020. However, further investigation highlights the findings that delayed care became a major problem during the pandemic, especially when it involved the need for specialty care. The majority of HR professionals indicate that some or most employees or dependents have suffered negative impacts from delayed care due to COVID-19 in five key areas:

• Untreated chronic illness

• Untreated acute illness

• Increased medical costs

• Hospitalization due to lack of treatment

• Misdiagnosis

Further, seven critical areas were revealed where employees and dependents are most likely to require specialty care, including: infectious disease, cardiology, mental health, oncology, pediatrics, musculoskeletal conditions, and endocrinology and weight management.

“We have seen an exponential increase in the need for quality specialty care from employers across industries in the last few years,” said Julian Flannery, CEO, and Co-founder of Summus Global. “These insights from leading HR executives across the US emphasize the criticality and demand for quality specialty care in a virtual setting for all employees.”

“Virtual care is here to stay and I’m confident that these kinds of important benefits will continue to evolve as we navigate our new work world,” stated Debbie McGrath, Chief Instigator and CEO of HR.com. “To avoid the risk of delayed treatments in specialty areas, employers will have to ensure their healthcare programs consider all areas of care and health concerns, and provide solutions that ensure access to high-quality care.”

Download the informative research infographic with insights and recommendations to help employers review and update virtual healthcare programs and technology as they strive for optimal employee wellbeing.

DOWNLOAD INFOGRAPHIC: https://web.hr.com/fyeah

About Summus Global

Summus Global, the leading virtual specialist platform, empowers families by providing access to a network of 4,000+ top specialists across 50 leading hospitals — within days, from anywhere in the world. The Summus model sets a new standard for speed of access to high-quality medical expertise and drives industry-leading engagement with employers. Pioneering the future of corporate health benefits, Summus Global partners with companies across the country to create an elevated healthcare experience for their employees and to support better, cost-efficient outcomes across all health questions and stages of care.

About HR.com and the HR Research Institute

HR.com’s HR Research Institute helps HR departments keep their finger on the pulse of HR! HR.com is committed to creating inspired and informed workforces by maximizing the potential of HR professionals around the world. Almost 2 million HR professionals rely on HR.com as the foremost, trusted industry resource for education, career development, and compliance (that many people can’t be wrong!). Offerings include the largest network of HR executives, leading-edge industry research from the HR Research Institute, 13 HR-themed epublications, innovative HR education including 250+ annual webcasts, the most comprehensive HR certification exam preparation program supporting SHRM and HRCI certification, as well as helpful HR tools and legal compliance updates. HR.com has the largest knowledge base of HR practices globally and offers unparalleled training and networking for HR professionals all over the world... 24/7… 365 (just in case you can’t get enough HR). Visit www.hr.com/hrresearchinstitute to download research (always free) and to maximize HR potential.

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