Enterprise health care cloud specialist Castlight Health announced a further expansion of its technology platform through a relationship with the nation’s largest telehealth provider, Teladoc, which boasts more than 8 million members.
Teladoc provides access to U.S. board-certified, state-licensed physicians who can treat many non-emergency medical issues, such as allergies, bronchitis, skin rashes, flu symptoms and pink eye, over a mobile phone, secure online video and through an available mobile app.
The relationship will enable Teladoc to offer its telehealth services through Castlight’s technology suite to enterprises that work with both Castlight and Teladoc. Castlight’s Enterprise Healthcare Cloud platform is a set of cloud-based applications delivered through a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model to users using a Web browser or mobile device.
For those individuals whose employers offer Teladoc within the Castlight technology suite, an alert will appear in Castlight when users conduct a search for a relevant medical service, such as an ear infection or sore throat.
The alert prompts the individual to opt for telehealth and provides an click through to access the Teladoc service and without leaving the home or office, the service can reduce the utilization of more costly alternatives, such as emergency rooms or urgent care facilities.
“We’re pleased to integrate Teladoc into Castlight. In doing so, we can help our employer customers realize even greater benefits from their telehealth service than if it is a stand-alone company benefit,” Maeve O’Meara, vice president of product management for Castlight Health, said in a statement. “The power is in leveraging the Castlight platform, making it that much easier for an employee to find and use Teladoc when they need it.”
Teladoc is one of many companies to integrate with Castlight through the Castlight Connect Solution Center, one of four Solution Centers that comprise the company’s enterprise cloud-based health care platform.
Castlight Connect also has integrations with advocacy services, wellness solutions, decision support applications, and appointment scheduling solutions.
These third-party integrations are designed to allow employees to discover and access services such as telehealth providers, health savings account providers, on-site clinic providers and other expert opinion services.
“Teladoc’s relationship with Castlight is designed to deliver significant value for large employers nationwide by helping their employees seek lower cost, higher quality options instead of the ER or Urgent Care Center when their doctor is unavailable,” Jason Gorevic, CEO of Teladoc, said in a statement. “The Castlight relationship is in line with our recent strategic alliances and partnerships as Teladoc continues to expand and grow as a leader in health care.”