Canada could experience a 2.6-fold increase in visits to mental-health practitioners and up to a 20 per cent increase in antidepressant prescriptions due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report by Deloitte. The report explored the human and social impact of natural disasters and periods of economic hardship — such as […]
Sun Life Financial is making an equity investment of $32.7 million in Canadian telemedicine provider Dialogue, with the two entities forming a strategic commercial partnership. Through the deal, Sun Life will hold a minority ownership position in Dialogue. The round of financing also includes further investments from existing backers, including the Caisse de dépôt et placement […]
Health and productivity is affected by a lack of access to care, according to Dr. Hanif Jamal, Canadian medical director at Teledoc Health, during a webinar hosted by Benefits Canada. Referring to a recent survey by the Canadian Medical Association, he noted 73 per cent of Canadians said they believe virtual care will improve access, followed by more […]
The majority (95 per cent) of global employers said they include emotional and mental-health programs in their corporate well-being platforms, according to a new survey by Business Group on Health and Fidelity Investments Inc. The survey, which was fielded last fall and prior to the coronavirus pandemic, found the most common mental-health and well-being offerings […]
While 72 per cent of Canadian employers said they’ll make minimal or no changes to their benefits coverage in 2021, 21 per cent are planning some plan design changes around health coverage, according to a new survey by Arther J. Gallagher & Co. Eight per cent said they’re looking at plan design and contribution structure […]
Through a partnership with Johnston Group Inc., Teledoc Health Inc. is offering its telemedicine services to 350 First Nations and Inuit employers to provide to their employees. Since nearly 40 per cent of Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples live in rural areas, Johnston Group’s specialty employee benefits program, CINUP, aims to provide health services to […]
iA Financial Group is teaming up with Dialogue Technologies Inc. to improve health-care access for its group benefits plan members. The platform allows plan members and their families to speak with health-care professionals, anywhere in Canada, at any time. Available online or on any mobile device, its services include: prescription renewal and free delivery of […]
Several weeks into the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. has seen a 415 per cent increase in the percentage of employees working remotely or part time, according to a new survey by WorldatWork. The survey, which polled more than 1,500 total rewards and human resources professionals in the U.S., also found 37 per cent of organizations are providing […]
Dr. Jennifer Wild, consultant clinical psychologist and associate professor at the University of Oxford When we’re feeling ill, we want to be seen quickly by our doctors. Earlier access to treatment means less suffering, whether we’re dealing with a chest infection or something more debilitating like depression. Telemedicine eases access to assessment and treatment, which […]
Telemedicine provider Dialogue is expanding into Europe with the acquisition of Argumed Consulting Group, a German occupational health and safety company. Argumed provides workplace health and safety services, such as psychological and other risk assessments and hazardous substances management, for multiple industries in Germany. The company also has an expansion strategy around digitizing its services. The deal […]