Many of us remember a time when healthcare was a breeze to manage. There was the trusted family doctor, dentist, nurse, orthodontist for all sorts of health-related problems. Often, the doctor would even conduct home visits to make it easier on the patient. Needless to say, complete trust was given to doctors – from diagnoses to prescriptions and treatments. These care givers were taking action to monitor their patients health. The family doctor was often an active part of the family ecosystem and attended church, sports leagues, dinner parties and other activities with them. There was also nothing more comforting than knowing pharmacists by their first names.
So, what has changed?
With today’s fast paced and dynamic lifestyle, many people are becoming passive about their health. Jobs are less stable and are often balancing towards work. Between the job, family, friends, errands and changes in the healthcare system, taking an active role in ones health seems difficult at best.
However, those who ask questions of their doctors and play an active role in making decisions about their care tend to get the right care and have the best outcomes.
CareValet: Enabling Positive Healthcare Outcomes
Seeing these changes, CareValet’s founder Joe Hodges decided to address the need through a telemedicine enabled consumer application and website that can help manage healthcare. In an exclusive Bold Business interview at the Synapse Summit Hodges explains, “When we looked at where healthcare is today, it’s healthcare at you. It’s not healthcare for you or with you.”
CareValet is a healthcare mobile app that aids consumers to make educated decisions. It places the consumers at the center of the platform, making sure that their health needs are answered and met. Further, Hodges explains, “We believe that as a consumer you have the right to make a decision over cost or quality according to your specifications and not anyone else’s.”
It is also a platform that connects providers to patients. With all the data and resources at their fingertips, the consumers are able to take control of their healthcare.
CareValet Functionality
CareValet aids its members through the following functions:
- Compares routine care and selects the best price for improved healthcare spending. CareValet has a network of providers for routine care such as allergy shots, immunization shots, dental care, and physical examination.
- Electronically schedule appointments seamlessly through the healthcare mobile app. Which, saves you from making lengthy phone calls.
- Virtual doctors are available 24 x 7 x 365 for faster and convenient care. Through the app’s telemedicine functions, members can access board-certified doctors, pediatricians, and therapists—anytime, anywhere.
- Medical ID card can be stored in the healthcare mobile app for easier retrieval. Your medical ID card can be displayed, sent, or emailed to your provider on your terms.
- Notifications will also alert members for accepted bookings and upcoming appointments. This helps you plan your schedule and not miss out on your appointments.
- Compare drug costs between pharmacies and save on your prescriptions. Medications can be quite expensive. Any amount saved will be a great help.
- Rate through the healthcare mobile app your provider based on your experience, patient satisfaction, and quality of service. This functionality helps both the provider and the customer. The provider will have the chance to improve their service through customer feedback. The customers, on the other hand, will have the power to choose the provider with the best reputation.
- Get a ride to your provider if you don’t feel like driving or lack the means, to your next appointment. One tap through the CareValet app will get you there.
Be the Driver of Your Own Healthcare
Health providers, doctors, and health insurance companies take a huge role in healthcare. However, people should be at the helm of their own well-being. Here are a few steps to take:
- Be your own health advocate. Adapting a healthy lifestyle is important—balancing diet, enough rest, an exercise routine create significant impact. Starting a diet program or fitness routine can be tough, but there is no magic pill for good health.
- Surround yourself with people who advocate a healthy lifestyle. Following a healthy routine can be challenging if you do not have a supportive environment. Encourage family members to join you in the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.
- Find a health plan that works for you. Shop around and compare benefits. Check which plan offers comprehensive medical benefits as well as preventative and pharmacy benefits.
- Find a good doctor whom you can trust for your routine checkups and regular consultations. If you are moving to a new health provider and he or she is not in the network, ask for recommendations for a new doctor.
- Be cautious about tests. Americans spend twice as much as other countries like Japan, Germany, and UK in healthcare because of unnecessary medical tests like CT scan, MRI, or X-ray. Ask your doctor why you need to take a medical test.
- Keep a record of your numbers such as blood pressure, glucose levels, and cholesterol levels. Free healthcare mobile apps do a good job of monitoring one’s health. Take note of any changes to healthy levels.
The healthcare system can be confusing and intimidating at times. But if you learn more about how the system works, you will be able to play an active role in managing your healthcare. Ultimately, by placing yourself at the center of your health should provide you options that work for you.
