The Absentee Avengers: Fighting Absenteeism with a Shorter Care Cycle

There is a superhero in all of us; we just need the courage to put on the cape. This month we put on the cape to fight the battle most employers face: absenteeism. The CDC reports that annual productivity losses linked to absenteeism cost employers $1,685 per employee. That's a problem that has been going on for a long time, yet we keep taking the same approach year after year.

The case for rethinking brick-and-mortar care

Between advancing technology, changing viewpoints, and new generations entering the workforce, a compelling business case exists for rethinking healthcare treatment in a brick-and-mortar setting. Consumer expectations have shifted decisively toward convenience and direct accessibility. From shopping to entertainment, services now integrate seamlessly into people's lives. Why not healthcare?

Healthcare should be as accessible as ordering a meal or hailing a ride. It starts with eliminating unnecessary employee travel to and from in-person appointments.

The proof

Two large academic studies compared the cost and quality of telemedicine versus in-person visits for the six most commonly seen conditions across more than 66,000 group health insurance claims from Anthem and Intermountain Health. Researchers tracked the total cost of a care episode across urgent care centers, primary care offices, and emergency departments.

After the first visit on Day 1, the rate of additional visits for the original complaint ranged from 32% to 57% over the next 21 days. If patients started their journey at the ER, there was a 57% return rate over that 21-day period.

This outdated care path drives higher absenteeism through an inefficient care cycle. Whether it's primary care, urgent care, or the ER, employees make trips to the facility, sit in waiting rooms exposed to additional illness, then drive back.

Shortening the care cycle

When symptoms demand in-person care, an in-home urgent care option shortens the 21-day episode and lowers the risk of an undetected serious illness. With EZaccessMD, an in-home care team can be at an employee's home or office within a few short hours to conduct anything from an X-ray exam to a lab test. Within the same day, the patient has a confirmed diagnosis, a treatment plan, and a script when needed, all without leaving home or office.

Under EZ's care model, more is done on Day 1. Addressing issues quickly at the most appropriate, efficient point of service speeds recovery and mitigates compounding health issues.

What about costs?

The researchers also captured the cost of these events. The weighted average cost of being seen for one of those six conditions was $866. The average cost of EZaccessMD's episode of care over 21 days is $358. That's a savings of $508 for every episode of care.

Investing in mobile urgent care saves employers significant time and money by creating a more efficient care cycle, resulting in lower absenteeism and presenteeism.