A Pilot Study Investigating Employee Utilization of Corporate Telehealth Services

In line with the vision of the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) to improve health outcomes and eliminate healthcare disparities in Mississippi, a corporate telehealth program was initiated beginning May 2014. A descriptive study was performed to discover common characteristics among enrolled employee users who took advantage of UMMC's corporate telehealth services offered in their workplace throughout the program's first year of operation. This pilot study examined the number of videoconference visits (e-visits) throughout the first year of operation, from May 2014 through April 2015. This examination of common user traits may help identify characteristics that indicate an employee's likelihood of using corporate telehealth. The study revealed the highest use among employees between the ages of 30 and 49 years and among those who attended a formal orientation session including both the employer's human resources personnel and a UMMC corporate telehealth representative. Corporations may find that offering corporate telehealth serves as an effective means to reduce overall healthcare costs and productivity loss. Furthermore, the identification of common variables in this study may help the UMMC corporate telehealth program develop additional methods to reach and assist employees who may not otherwise seek medical treatment.