In this insightful episode of "Healthcare on the Rocks: Employee Benefits with a Twist," Lauren Gums, Executive Vice President of Clinic Services at Transcarent, shares her expertise on the rapidly evolving world of telehealth and virtual care. With over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, Lauren offers valuable perspectives on how these technologies are reshaping consumer expectations and transforming healthcare delivery. 

Throughout the episode, Lauren highlights the growing importance of convenience and accessibility in modern healthcare, noting that "90 percent of the U.S. population [has] smartphones, and of those smartphone users, 96 percent prefer text." She explains how telehealth platforms like Transcarent are meeting these expectations by providing "urgency and accuracy" in care delivery.

The discussion covers a wide range of topics, including the sustainability of virtual care models, the revolutionary role of AI in healthcare, and crucial factors employers should consider when evaluating telehealth programs. Lauren also addresses the critical issues of data security and privacy in virtual care solutions, emphasizing their importance in maintaining trust and compliance.

Key takeaways from the episode include:

• Telehealth usage has stabilized at about 38 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels, indicating a lasting shift in healthcare delivery preferences.
• AI is playing a pivotal role in enhancing personalization, improving diagnostic accuracy, and streamlining care delivery in telehealth.
• When assessing virtual care programs, employers should focus on employee engagement, health outcomes, and overall satisfaction.
• Robust security measures, including HIPAA compliance and AI governance programs, are essential for protecting member data in virtual care platforms.
• Virtual care platforms are seen as complementary to traditional healthcare, with Lauren advocating for "an integrated hybrid approach to delivering care."

Stay in Touch!

• Connect with Lauren Gums on LinkedIn
• Visit Transcarent 
• Learn more about the Springbuk Activate Partner Marketplace and get other related resources
• Get the complete 2024 Employee Health Trends report and other related resources
• Connect with our co-hosts Brittany Hardaway and David Pittman 

Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at [email protected].

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Theme music: "Overboard" by Stay Outside