Employer health centers are reinventing themselves, seeking permanent expansion of virtual care added during pandemic
More than half of employers kept centers open, while nearly 80% added or increased the use of virtual care, Willis Towers Watson survey finds
ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) The vast majority of employers with onsite or near-site health centers either added or increased virtual care services in place of in-person visits during the pandemic, according to a survey by Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company. Additionally, over half of centers that expanded their virtual care services plan to make those changes permanent.
Businesses in the country step up push to get their workers higher up the list
Ahead of shipments of Pfizer s coronavirus vaccine arriving at US hospitals from Monday, calls have been made for diverse workers-from Uber drivers and bank tellers to pharmacists and makers of household goods like toilet paper-to be considered essential service providers entitled to early doses. Everybody believes that their own workers should be first in line for vaccine doses, said Jeff Levin-Scherz, co-leader of Willis Towers Watson s health management practice.
An expert panel advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week overwhelmingly recommended that the first doses go to the nation s 21 million healthcare workers and 3 million residents of long-term care facilities. They fall into what has been called Phase 1a of distribution of the vaccine, which Pfizer developed with BioNTech.
A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine sticker and a medical syringe in front of displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken, Oct 30, 2020. [Photo/Agencies]
As shipments of Pfizer s coronavirus vaccine begin arriving at hospitals in the United States on Monday, businesses and professional groups are lobbying to be considered essential to get early doses. Everybody believes that their own workers should be first in line for vaccine doses, said Jeff Levin-Scherz, co-leader of health-management practice at Willis Towers Watson, a global advisory, broking and solutions company.
Last week, a panel of experts advising the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention overwhelmingly recommended that the first doses go to the nation s 21 million healthcare workers and 3 million residents of long-term care facilities, who are in the Phase 1a category.