Virtual Health Check-Ins: The New Norm for Mobile Professionals 

Remote and mobile working are the new normal, with more workers embracing a hybrid or remote model.  

This trend also applies to healthcare, offering significant benefits for mobile professionals through virtual health services. 

Virtual health check-ins allow you to consult with a medical professional, remotely (or virtually), this can be done on a laptop, tablet or even your handset. Naturally, the demands of the consultation dictate the device or platform that you use.  

It can also include the use of remote monitoring devices, such as blood pressure monitors or glucose meters. 

Since 2020, virtual healthcare use soared across the world. To use just one example, in a survey from the American Medical Association survey, over 80% of physicians said that patients have better access to care since using telehealth.  

And this is just the beginning, as AI is also becoming a greater part of healthcare.

Anyone who’s sat in a doctor’s waiting room will know what a time vacuum it can become. And that’s before you take into account travelling, parking, and returning from that office.  

A virtual health check can be done from the comfort of your home, and begins when you’re both ready.  

Indeed, for those with serious health concerns, and who live in remote areas, telemedicine can be literally lifesaving. 

Another benefit of remote consultations is that you won’t be sharing space with patients who might be bringing communicable illnesses (even one as mild as a cold).  

Telemedicine entered the mainstream during the pandemic. To use just one figure, in the US, as the pandemic began, the number of telemedicine patients jumped from 5 million to more than 53 million among Medicare recipients alone. 

In many cases, a patient is charged less for remote consultation. Telemedicine reduces overheads for healthcare providers, and many encourage their patients to use it.  

In fact, some companies now cover all or some of the cost of telemedicine consultations for their staff. 

Often, your home environment is relevant to your health. During virtual consultations, the healthcare professional might be able to assess your home from the point of view of allergies, ventilation, even if it’s the right environment from a mental health point of view.  

You also will have access to paperwork and information at home that you might not bring to a doctor’s office. 

Even on a more mundane level, giving (for instance) a nutritionist a look at your fridge and kitchen is more helpful and tangible than recalling dietary habits from memory.  

You never regret a checkup. If you emerge with a clean bill of health, it’s reassuring and pleasant. If the news or diagnosis is not what you hoped for, the sooner you find out the better: Armed with the right knowledge, you can get started on solutions (whether that means healthier lifestyle or treatment).  

There is no downside to regularly being informed about your health and wellbeing. To find out more, check out our blog on Mobile Worker Wellness Hacks. 

Speaking of good habits and wellbeing, we discussed healthy habits developed during lockdown in a previous post.

Telemedicine is just one of the groundbreaking, practical digital solutions available for modern workers.  

At Allianz, we offer a range of international health insurance options tailored for professionals. Talk to us today to find a solution that suits you.