Denver-area businesses provide employees with private, text-based care
COLORADO – Feb. 28, 2019 – 98point6 today announced the expansion of its on-demand primary care service to five Colorado companies, bringing personalized consultation, diagnosis and treatment to thousands of employees throughout the state. Christian Living Communities, Stonebridge Companies, RLH Corporation, Fastaff Travel Nursing and EverCommerce have all committed to providing their employees access to affordable, high-quality primary care right from their smartphones.
98point6 combines innovative AI technology with board-certified physicians, allowing individuals to conveniently receive care in between meetings, during their commute or while at home. Leveraging machine learning and automation enables doctors to optimize and complete tasks that don’t require direct physician interaction so they can focus on what matters most: taking care of patients. 98point6 also allows employers to increase primary care utilization among those not actively or appropriately engaged in healthcare—which ultimately leads to less time away from the job.
With a unique understanding of the current primary care crisis, Christian Living Communities, an Englewood-based senior living organization, chose 98point6 for its benefits-eligible employees and their dependents to help promote general health and assist in employee retention in a competitive Colorado job market.
“98point6 allows our employees the flexibility to see a doctor and receive readily accessible care when they’re often too busy caring for our residents to take care of themselves,” said Rachael Kelly, benefits director, Christian Living Communities. “For those on our staff working 12-hour shifts, 98point6 lets them have a visit with a physician whenever they have downtime at work.”
While considered one of the healthiest states in America, Colorado is in the midst of a critical healthcare professional shortage, ranking near the bottom of the country when it comes to having enough primary care physicians for its growing population, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. As a result, more than one-fourth of Colorado residents do not have a personal doctor while another 12 percent have not seen a doctor in the last year due to cost.
For Colorado employers, 98point6 offers a low subscription fee, resulting in little to no cost for employees while enabling earlier medical intervention and reducing the overall cost of care. Also, since more than 55 percent of private-sector employees in Colorado have high-deductible health plans—higher than the national average of 42 percent—98point6 provides Colorado employees affordable access to primary care, which they might otherwise avoid due to cost.
“The cost and convenience are key for our associates,” said Kellee Amerman, director of benefits at Stonebridge Companies, one of the nation’s leading hotel ownership, management and development companies. “Texting is the preferred method of communication for the majority of our associates. When our associates are not feeling well, they can pick up their phones and get legitimate answers from board-certified physicians. Utilization is already up significantly from our previous telemedicine solution.”
To begin using 98point6, download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, create a secure account and the doctor will see you right now. For additional information, please visit www.98point6.com.
About 98point6
Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Seattle, 98point6 is pioneering a new approach to primary care. By pairing deep technology with board-certified physicians, our vision is to make primary care more accessible and affordable—leading to better health and reducing the cost of care. We meet consumers where they are by offering private, text-based diagnosis and treatment via a mobile app. For employers, 98point6 increases primary care utilization among those not actively or appropriately engaged in their health—enabling earlier medical intervention and improving employee productivity. 98point6 is available on the Apple App Store, Google Play and at www.98point6.com.