In a time of growing pressure on an increasingly overwhelmed NHS, alternative approaches are on hand to fill the gaps in the everyday health needs that are integral to our ongoing good health. Nowhere is this more evident than in the world of business where the rise of digital health benefits marks a significant shift in how businesses are supporting their employees’ wellbeing.
No longer viewed as a fringe benefit, employee wellbeing services are at the forefront of how HR leaders are trying to boost productivity, maintain retention and increase engagement. From virtual GP appointments, to AI-enhanced mental health apps, digital health benefits are leading the way for a happier, healthier modern workforce.
As a society, we have grown used to having our needs met by fingertip transactions, and our everyday healthcare requirements should be no exception. Today’s employees want flexible, accessible healthcare which can now be delivered via a whole host of digital, hands-off applications. There are now contact-free methods for detecting a range of health issues meaning that early intervention has never been easier to implement. A case in point would be the ability to flag potential skin cancers. Apps can scan skin spots and moles for the early signs of skin cancer, and can provide immediate feedback as to whether further investigation is needed.
Another evolution in self-monitoring comes in the form of transdermal optical imaging technology. This revolutionary monitoring method uses a smartphone camera to interpret subtle changes in the behaviour of blood flow beneath the skin’s surface, enabling it to determine the likelihood of serious health conditions. With this cutting-edge technology available, it is now fast and convenient to check key health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, cardiovascular disease risk, stroke risk and even stress. By regularly monitoring their base level indicators, users have an ongoing handle on their health level and can take ownership over their own wellbeing and can find reassurance in the knowledge they are making data-backed decisions on how to improve their wellbeing.
Digital health monitoring identifies warning signs before they develop into serious problems. Rather than waiting for employees to reach a crisis point, businesses can take preventative action, ensuring that wellbeing support is available whenever and wherever it is needed.
While individual privacy is respected, the overall data on usage can be aggregated and explored meaning that a traditionally difficult-to-quantify area of health, can now be presented as a useful metric for measuring the overall health of a workforce at large. HR departments will be able to see the engagement levels of self-monitoring within their staff demographics and will have an accurate picture of any specific areas for concern among their workforces. In turn, this can highlight the need for health awareness to be promoted among workers in order to maintain a healthy team.
While employees enjoy the many benefits of these digital health tools, employers also stand to benefit from the expansion of such technologies. HR decision-makers can also offer a significant boost to their employees by offering access to digital and online mental health and wellbeing services. Post-pandemic, mental health in the workplace has shaken off some of the stigma of the past and we are more comfortable discussing our emotions and shining a light on areas such as exhaustion, anxiety and stress. Most employee assistance programmes now come with online support platforms and tools, providing evidence-based interventions which can build employees’ mental resilience and strengthen personal, emotional and financial wellbeing.
In a world driven increasingly by convenience and accessibility, it is essential that our health services move in tandem with the rapid developments we are seeing in science and technology. There has never been a better time to explore the exciting innovations in digital health benefits as a healthier workforce is a happier, more productive workforce and that is a win-win scenario for all involved.
Paul Gambon is sales and marketing director at Medicash
