Navigating the way to Return Better
After more than a year of quick pivots fueled by efforts to curb COVID-19, engaged employers are now looking to apply lessons learned. The goal is not to return to pre-pandemic strategies, but rather to Return Better™.
In the following videos, Dr. Omar Baker, executive vice president at OptumHealth, shares insights into how employers can support their employees through these changing times.
Mike Binkley
New information on COVID-19 keeps coming, leaving many employers with questions about how to best support their employees. So we now have approved vaccines and we're being bombarded with so much information. Let's start by going over what's fact and what are some of the myths that are out there? First, what should we know about when a person becomes immune?
Dr. Omar Baker
Immunity takes time to build. A- according to the CDC, you are considered fully immune two weeks after you've been fully vaccinated. So with the vaccines that require two doses, that would be two weeks after the second dose, and with the live attenuated vaccines that require one dose, that would be two weeks after your first dose.
Mike Binkley
And many people believe once they've been vaccinated, they can't, then, infect other people. Is that true or false?
Dr. Omar Baker
That's somewhere in the middle. I- A lot is still being learned about how well COVID-19 vaccines affect the spread of the virus or minimize the spread of the virus. Even if you have been fully vaccinated, the CDC still recommends social distancing, wearing masks in public, and frequently washing hands. However, some restrictions have been lightened by the CDC for those who've been vaccinated, such as gathering indoors with other vaccinated individuals without wearing a mask or without physical distancing. Now, this should be exerted with some caution if you are around those who may have significant complications if they were to be infected with COVID-19. So, using common sense and your best judgment, it's always better to air on the side of caution.
Mike Binkley
And for those who have previously been sick with COVID-19 and built up some antibodies, there are some who apparently believe that they don't need the vaccine. Is that true or false?
Dr. Omar Baker
That is false. Even if you've had a previous or prior infection with COVID-19, it is still recommended that you get vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine.
Video
True or false: Cleaning up COVID-19 vaccine confusion
Sort fact from fiction and learn about immunity, transmission and more.
Mike Binkley
So what does the availability of these vaccines mean for businesses that are now considering whether to bring workers back into the workplace?
Dr. Omar Baker
That's a great question. Uh, my hope is that the vaccines bring a sense of optimism and hope and confidence for employers who are evaluating plans to bring employees back into the office. Some risks to be mindful of, and mitigate against, are a lack of historical precedence to guide employers. Uh, we are still learning about the effectiveness against variance. There still may be a risk of contracting COVID-19 at work, so employers will still need to implement precautions that were in place before the vaccines came to market, such as temperature checks, mask wearing, social and physical distancing.
Dr. Omar Baker
We- we encourage employers to continue these important infectious disease protocols, even while encouraging employees to get vaccinated. My goal would be to educate, educate and educate on the safety and efficacy of these vaccines, and hopefully arm your employees with enough information to, to make the best determination for their health and their family.
Video
COVID-19 vaccines: What employers need to know
Create a new playbook with COVID-19 vaccines.
Mike Binkley
Before we had these vaccines, of course testing was crucial in terms of controlling the spread of the virus. Now, with vaccinations well underway, and as we consider reopening our offices, uh, is testing still as important?
Dr. Omar Baker
Testing is still as important as ever, even with the availability of vaccines. In a recent survey, 82% of Americans say the COVID-19 vaccine rollout will be more effective if it works in partnership with testing, and I fully agree. Some examples of what we've done here across Optum, we have performed nearly 2.3 million COVID-19 tests since the beginning of the pandemic. Our team across Optum, a team of teams approach, drove multiple innovations over the course of the last 12 months.
First, we created saline collection kits for distribution throughout Optum during the national collection kit shortage that we encountered. Number two, we deployed rapid execution of enterprise wide contracting across multiple vendors to ensure access to available testing. Also, in partnership with Optum Care, the Gates Foundation, and the University of Washington, we influenced and changed FDA guidance around self-testing that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Very proud of this combination of partnerships, leading to innovation, which had a reach and a greater good well beyond United Health Group, but frankly across the nation and across the globe. And our Optum Serve business has been asked by multiple states to do testing for underserved, uninsured and underinsured folks in some of our most impoverished areas across the country. So, hopefully we can continue to scale that and have a great impact as we build the next generation health system.
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Do we still need to test for COVID-19?
Discover innovations in COVID-19 testing and why testing is as important as ever.
Mike Binkley
With so much focus on COVID-19 over the past year, we know a lot of people have avoided going to see the doctor for other conditions, chronic conditions that they might have. Uh, what can you tell us about that?
Dr. Omar Baker
Yeah, indeed. And, and this was one of the unintended consequences around preventative care and deferral of medical care. According to a new report, more than 40% of Americans age 18 to 64 with one or more chronic conditions avoided or delayed care as of September. That compared to 26.4% of adults with no chronic conditions. According to the same report, the impacts of delaying or avoiding care were felt more by those with chronic conditions. An estimated 23% of these adults reported that going without or delaying care worsened a health condition. 21% said it limited their ability to perform daily activities, and nearly 15% said it limited their ability to work. Deferring care can lead to an increase and worsening of health outcomes, so employers should really consider providing educational materials and resources for employees to encourage timely screenings and care routine, particularly and most importantly with those with chronic conditions.
Mike Binkley
So, Dr. Baker, what resources are available? And how can employers help workers get the care they need?
Dr. Omar Baker
There are many resources that are now available that have, that have come out of this pandemic which have forced health care organizations like Optum and UnitedHealthcare to, to rapidly innovate. Examples of this are the acceleration and the agility around telehealth visits. At Optum Care, we've conducted nearly 1.3 million telehealth virtual visits in the last 12 months. This is just remarkable. It's allowed us to meet patients where they are.
Uh, some other example which are both alternatives and supplements to traditional brick and mortar medical care are remote patient monitoring for COVID-19 surveillance. As of April of 2020, we at Optum Care have combined our remote patient monitoring platform, Vivify, for nearly 6,000 chronic, complex patients. To monitor their symptoms, not only for COVID-19, but for chronic conditions while at home which has been a remarkable way to leverage both technology and clinical insights to better treat and care for patients remotely.
Patients participating in this program use the Vivify app to answer questions about their health and communicate with their care team through video calls, telephonic calls or secure messaging. We've also leveraged our nurse helpline through population health services for 24/7 access. So, you know, when you take these historical point solutions and you combine them together to better target patients, especially those who are underserved or those with multiple chronic conditions, there is a lot of power there to deliver optimal medical care, uh, wherever the patient may be.
Video
The impact of delayed care during the pandemic
Understand the risks of delayed care and how employers can help ensure their employees receive the care they need.
Mike Binkley
Let's talk about the toll that COVID-19 has taken on our mental health. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that one in three adults in the US has reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder since May of 2020. So why is it important for employers to consider mental health of their employees? And how does this affect strategies for bringing them back to the workplace?
Dr. Omar Baker
This is a very concerning statistic. Additionally, among adults reporting symptoms, nearly 23% reported needing but not receiving counseling or therapy based on data from October 2020. For any employer, the most important part of their organization is their people. And I've learned that firsthand being here at United Health Group. Taking care of your people holistically and letting them know you care and giving them their resources and letting your actions speaking louder than your words really will do an enormous amount for your culture, your retention and your overall morale at any organization.
Mike Binkley
And so how can they employers ensure that their employees have access to the help that they need? What resources are available?
Dr. Omar Baker
Many employers are already providing resources, such as employee assistance program that offer counseling, support and self-care tools. Some may evaluate additional mental health and meditation apps like Sanvello, a mobile app for stress, anxiety and depression with over three million users already.
Mike Binkley
All right. Well, we know how important it's been for friends and family to stay connected during all this and check in on each other. And, and the same could be said for employees, right? I mean, what, what's the best way to do that?
Dr. Omar Baker
Staying connected is more important than ever, as is making sure employees are able to continue fostering their relationships at work. So encourage your employees to pick up the phone and call one another. It is so easy to rely on email and other digital forms of communication now. We don't want to get too comfortable, uh, in our pandemic ways. The interpersonal connections are sometimes what foster the creativity at work, and it is those connections that allow people to be very productive and also seek joy and fulfillment from their workplace. So continue those important relationships, because ultimately, like I said, it is the people and the relationships that drive innovation and performance at any organization.
Video
COVID-19 impact on mental health
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Mike Binkley
Now looking ahead as we start to emerge from this, how will this experience change the workforce strategy going forward?
Dr. Omar Baker
You know, it's hard to have a crystal ball, but, uh, looking back in the last year, uh, uh, we dealt with a vicious virus. And it, and it was a terrible, terrible situation, but we learned a lot and we have to apply those lessons learned to hopefully become a better civilization, a better people and a better workforce.
And the pandemic has highlighted some challenges but also created an opportunity for organizations to reengage with their workforce and reimagine their workplaces. Nontraditional work settings can work with many workers working from home, but employees will need different and more flexible support and perhaps a shift away from traditional care settings as well. Mental health will warrant more focus. There is also a disproportionate impact on the health of communities of color.
Health inequity always existed. What the pandemic did was it shined a magnifying glass on already existing health disparities. We need to v- keep a very close eye on this to, to ensure we are doing our very best. And at United Health Group, this has become a priority for us to deliver equitable, fair, compassionate care and make the health system work for everyone.
Mike Binkley
Great information today, Dr. Baker. Thank you so much.
Dr. Omar Baker
It was my pleasure. Thank you for having me.
Video
Looking ahead post-pandemic
Reimagine the workplace and apply lessons learned.
Mike Binkley
With so much focus on COVID-19 over the past year, we know a lot of people have avoided going to see the doctor for other conditions, chronic conditions that they might have. Uh, what can you tell us about that?
Dr. Omar Baker
Yeah, indeed. And, and this was one of the unintended consequences around preventative care and deferral of medical care. According to a new report, more than 40% of Americans age 18 to 64 with one or more chronic conditions avoided or delayed care as of September. That compared to 26.4% of adults with no chronic conditions. According to the same report, the impacts of delaying or avoiding care were felt more by those with chronic conditions. An estimated 23% of these adults reported that going without or delaying care worsened a health condition. 21% said it limited their ability to perform daily activities, and nearly 15% said it limited their ability to work. Deferring care can lead to an increase and worsening of health outcomes, so employers should really consider providing educational materials and resources for employees to encourage timely screenings and care routine, particularly and most importantly with those with chronic conditions.
Mike Binkley
So, Dr. Baker, what resources are available? And how can employers help workers get the care they need?
Dr. Omar Baker
There are many resources that are now available that have, that have come out of this pandemic which have forced health care organizations like Optum and UnitedHealthcare to, to rapidly innovate. Examples of this are the acceleration and the agility around telehealth visits. At Optum Care, we've conducted nearly 1.3 million telehealth virtual visits in the last 12 months. This is just remarkable. It's allowed us to meet patients where they are.
Uh, some other example which are both alternatives and supplements to traditional brick and mortar medical care are remote patient monitoring for COVID-19 surveillance. As of April of 2020, we at Optum Care have combined our remote patient monitoring platform, Vivify, for nearly 6,000 chronic, complex patients. To monitor their symptoms, not only for COVID-19, but for chronic conditions while at home which has been a remarkable way to leverage both technology and clinical insights to better treat and care for patients remotely.
Patients participating in this program use the Vivify app to answer questions about their health and communicate with their care team through video calls, telephonic calls or secure messaging. We've also leveraged our nurse helpline through population health services for 24/7 access. So, you know, when you take these historical point solutions and you combine them together to better target patients, especially those who are underserved or those with multiple chronic conditions, there is a lot of power there to deliver optimal medical care, uh, wherever the patient may be.
Video
Navigating a way to Return Better
Hear from Dr. Omar Baker on insights and approaches employes can use to support their employees through the rapidly changing dynamics of COVId-19. From vaccines to testing and mental health, this series of videos covers the many phases in our journey to Return Better™.