What You Should Know
– Teladoc Health has launched significant enhancements to its 24/7 Care service, moving virtual urgent care from a simple transactional visit to a comprehensive, integrated clinical experience.
– Powered by the company’s Prism care delivery platform, the enhanced service now treats a broader range of conditions—from sleep issues to uncontrolled diabetes—while offering real-time specialist consults and integrated Health Information Exchange (HIE) data to identify gaps in preventive care.
The Prism Pivot: From Triage to Total Care
Historically, virtual urgent care was limited to “low-acuity” issues like sinus infections or rashes. Teladoc’s new Prism platform changes the clinical scope entirely.
- Expanded Clinical Breadth: Care teams can now manage back and joint pain, hair loss, and sleep issues, alongside optimized medication management for chronic conditions like hypertension, COPD, and asthma.
- Instant Specialist Access: If a case is complex, providers can now consult a board-certified specialist in seconds during the virtual visit. This “provider-to-provider” model ensures that 95% of concerns are resolved in a single visit, drastically reducing expensive ER trips and unnecessary referrals.
- Real-Time Pharmacy Transparency: Providers can now see a patient’s specific pharmacy benefits—including copays and preferred alternatives—at the point of prescribing, which is proven to improve medication adherence and member satisfaction.
The Preventive Engine: HIE and Claims Data Integration
One of the most disruptive features of the 24/7 Care enhancement is the use of Health Information Exchange (HIE) and claims data to spot gaps in care during an urgent visit.
- Earlier Intervention: During a routine urgent care visit, Teladoc providers can now identify if a patient is overdue for breast, colorectal, or cervical cancer screenings.
- Actionable Insights: Early data shows that 70% of members agree to take action on these preventive care recommendations made during their 24/7 Care visit.
- Care Continuity: Members can be seamlessly referred to in-network specialists or connected to existing Teladoc programs for weight management, diabetes, or mental health.
As Kelly Bliss, Teladoc Health’s President of U.S. Group Health, noted, the goal is to “raise expectations about the value that can be created in virtual visits”. By unifying clinical data with 24/7 access, Teladoc is positioning itself as the “front door” for both urgent and preventive care for the American workforce.
