Empowering Patients with Accessible Preventative Care

Higher Costs, Fewer Returns

Each year, employers spend millions to keep their workforces healthy and productive. Yet, what is the return on investment? Health costs have risen dramatically in the past decade with little-to-no improvement in patient outcomes and absenteeism has increased as more employees encounter cost and accessibility barriers to care.

Some companies attempt to remedy concerns simply by cutting back on employee perks. However, as Chris Achar, Chief Strategy Officer at Cue Health tells The Granite List, this approach seldom addresses the root cause of worsening health outcomes. For lasting results, including the possibility of reduced health care costs, companies must turn their attention to supporting preventive care for employees. “Current solutions are... lacking in preventive care; a large portion of healthcare expenditures are spent on managing chronic care, exacerbated by delayed access [to] care,” says Achar. Put another way, our approach to care is too often reactive, addressing issues only after they become disruptive. As a result, employees spend more time on sick leave—and employers pay thousands each year on preventable medical expenses.

Crucially, these gaps in care don’t just drive up companies’ health spend; they leave employees vulnerable to chronic conditions with potentially far-reaching consequences. For example, what if an employee with heart conditions fails to secure diagnostic testing and follow-up care? Left untreated, they may suffer life-threatening complications. Even common illnesses such as respiratory infections can have disastrous implications for employers and their workforce. Achar continues: “Employers experience this issue each and every day when an employee comes to work feeling unwell because they can’t afford to take time off work to go to the doctor, ultimately putting the rest of the workforce and business at risk.”

With COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses creating ongoing concerns, it’s critical for companies to ensure employees have ready access to fast testing and treatment. Recognizing this need, Cue has designed a digitally native, all-in-one platform that redefines the way employees can manage their own health - from at-home testing to on-demand virtual care and home delivery of medication.

Redefining the Landscape of Preventive Care

Cue embodies a holistic approach to care and fosters a culture of proactive health management in the workplace and beyond. “At Cue, we know that the healthcare journey begins with diagnostics, and we make it easier to access diagnostics so you can more conveniently and quickly get the personalized care and treatment that you need,” Achar explains. “Cue empowers employees to take proactive action towards their health, which may further improve health outcomes while saving on costs.” It’s a win-win solution for everyone: employees are able to access fast, convenient care, while employers pay less downstream for preventable illnesses.

Cue’s solution, says Achar, covers three essential facets of preventive care: convenient at-home testing, on-demand access to virtual care, and fast treatment delivery.

1. At-home testing: First and foremost, Cue recognizes the challenges of taking time off work to visit the doctor’s office. That's why Cue developed a portable molecular testing platform that can be used for accurate results at home, work, or anywhere else. And Cue's current and future menu of diagnostic solutions makes it easy for employers to incorporate Cue into existing health programs. “With Cue, we can create custom plans that address a company’s healthcare goals and needs,” says Achar. “We can work hand in hand with programs you are implementing through tests including heart health testing, women’s fertility, metabolic health, and colon cancer screening.” Achar continues, “We’re also expanding our acute care testing menu, starting with respiratory health and sexual health. Our molecular at-home tests will continue to support diagnosis of acute conditions in under 30 minutes—instead of having to wait days to be seen at a doctor’s office.”

2. On-demand access to care: Cue streamlines how employees can manage their health by offering easy access to virtual care with board-certified clinicians, available on most mobile devices via the Cue Health App.

3. Fast treatment delivery: Cue Health offers several options for follow-up care. Their digital platform lets employees access prescriptions with discreet at-home delivery same day, which could mean less time off work for employees.

According to Achar, this trifecta of diagnosis, virtual care, and treatment may help employers deliver better health outcomes. “By implementing Cue, we can support convenient, accessible at-home testing that empowers users and helps them stay on top of their health.”

Better Care, Better Business

If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that temporary fixes for rising health costs are not sustainable in today’s healthcare landscape. We need solutions that address the root cause of worsening health outcomes—namely, our inattention to preventive testing and lack of fast access to treatment. Cue goes above and beyond to tackle these gaps in care, encouraging employees to think proactively about their health. Crucially, this approach fosters a healthier workplace, and by supporting long-term health outcomes, Cue can assist in reducing downstream costs for employers. As Achar puts it, “Better care for your employees means a better, more productive business for you.”