The Future of Men’s Healthcare: A Path to Improved Access, Outcomes, and Cost Savings

In healthcare, men frequently encounter an environment that includes time constraints, restricted access to readily accessible medical care, and an aversion to addressing vulnerable topics. An astounding 77% of married men or those in domestic partnerships would prefer to accompany their partner shopping rather than attend a medical appointment. Furthermore, though 85 million men in the US voiced concerns about cancer, reproductive, and sexual health, 55% do not make the effort to engage in preventive healthcare.

Looking at these alarming statistics, we can observe and highlight the significant and pertinent challenges in men’s healthcare, analyze how to approach them and illustrate the eye-opening need for change. An innovative and solution-driven approach to tackle this roadblock is to introduce men to the ease, convenience, and confidentiality of telehealth. By allowing men to overcome their accessibility barriers through easily booked specialist visits unrestrained by typical scheduling issues in a holistic and private environment, telehealth is a key innovation in men’s path to overall wellness. Telehealth utilization can impact men’s overall healthcare outcomes and positively correlate to embracing preventive care. Therefore, men must have access to telehealth platforms to eliminate their roadblocks and encourage proactive medical management.

Vulnerability: The strength in seeking help

Men aren’t seeking help when it comes to their health. In a 2019 survey, 20% of men admitted not always telling their physician the truth about their health. Men provide three main reasons for their struggle to be open about their well-being and overall health. One of the most common ones was the feeling of embarrassment and stigma when it comes to discussing sensitive subjects like sexual health or infertility. The second reason was resistance to hearing that changes to their lifestyle or diet might be necessary. Thirdly, many men expressed that profound fear was a factor in avoiding health care, thus causing unnecessary anxiety over being unprepared to face the possibility of a severe health issue that would need aggressive and immediate treatment.

Vulnerability can and does prevent men from seeking timely medical help, leading to delayed diagnoses and poorer health outcomes. To remedy this cultural stigma, men must have access to safe, confidential, and reassuring environments that promote and encourage them to discuss their physical and mental health vulnerabilities. Telehealth is an innovative and easily accessible platform that can combat the stigma usually associated with an in-person visit. Virtual visits create a confidential environment where men can seek medical attention in the privacy of their own homes or locations of their choosing. This approach is pivotal for men’s urological health, opening the path for men to have a way to discuss sensitive subjects such as erectile dysfunction or prostate health. Accompanied by innovations in remote patient monitoring and testing, telehealth can match or even surpass the quality of traditional in-person visits while providing a more comfortable and accessible environment. 

Access: Where men’s healthcare falls short

Access is a significant issue when it comes to men’s healthcare, resulting in inequality in care and adverse health outcomes for the male population. The primary contributing variables that limit access are geographic locations, financial restraints, and identifying alternatives to in-person visits. In rural or underserved regions, a large number of men encounter difficulties in obtaining both primary and specialty healthcare services, such as urology, resulting in adverse health outcomes and unaddressed preventable health conditions. Additionally, (61.4% of U.S. counties lack a practicing urologist, with only one new urologist entering the field for every ten retiring. 

Financial constraints, such as high out-of-pocket expenses and limited insurance coverage, might deter men from getting critical medical care. Telemedicine significantly increases access to specialized care by removing geographical and logistical limitations, enabling men, regardless of location, to connect with urology specialists without the need for travel, referrals, or long wait times, saving them time and money. This accessibility is particularly beneficial for men in rural or underserved areas with limited access to local urology expertise, but it is essential for all men. 

Additionally, traditional fee-for-service models incentivize excessive provider testing or treatment that may not support their patient’s best interests. Integrated care and value-based care models are increasingly sought after as methods to promote quality patient experiences and improved outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. Telehealth provides a powerful medium to enable these proactive, patient-centered solutions by weaving together the components of patient care into one comprehensive technological solution. Value-based integrated care systems demonstrate the potential to make significant positive changes in the trajectory of men’s healthcare, and telehealth platforms enable effective implementation of these systems.

Time: The hidden barrier to men’s health

Men’s healthcare often revolves around competing priorities and busy lifestyles that deter men from prioritizing their health. Many men struggle to find time for regular check-ups and preventive care amidst work responsibilities, family commitments, and other daily obligations. A study conducted in family practices found that the average time for a patient to attend their appointment after receiving a urologist referral is 65 days. This staggering delay means overdue medical visits, which can exacerbate health issues and lead to more serious conditions down the line. Educating men about the importance of regular health screenings and making healthcare services more accessible and convenient can encourage proactive health management.

Telehealth-based care prioritizes convenience and eliminates wait and travel times that are typically observed in traditional in-person care facilities. By eliminating travel time to appointments and reducing in-person wait times, telehealth maximizes efficiency and convenience, thus encouraging frequent check-ins and follow-ups and facilitating quicker access to primary and specialized care. Additionally, telehealth platforms often provide secure messaging and digital health records, allowing seamless communication between patients and healthcare providers. Telemedicine not only saves time but also enhances the overall patient experience by prioritizing convenience and accessibility, thereby reducing the stress and anxiety often associated with finding the time to see a medical professional.

Closing the gap with integrated men’s health virtual care

The future of men’s healthcare depends on our ability to innovate and adapt to the changing requirements of male patients. By leveraging the power of telehealth, we can successfully address the persisting difficulties of time restrictions, restricted access to healthcare services, and the delicate topic of vulnerability. Telehealth not only provides a practical answer to these barriers, but it also empowers men to take control of their health in a way that is easy, confidential, and fits into their busy lifestyles. These solutions take steps to resolve larger men’s healthcare challenges, decreasing stigma and promoting patient-centered care while improving accessibility.

Leveraging the integrated virtual urology care model, the patient can access a full cycle of care integrated into one system. No longer are male patients confined to local resources like in-person clinics and doctors, resources that are typically disconnected, uncommunicative, and cost-ineffective. Through telehealth, patients can access a urologist, a specialized care team, and at-home testing from the comfort of a private, accessible locale of their own choosing. The future of men’s health embraces an integrated care model that will solve for time, access, vulnerability, and cost. Men will be able to build a trusting relationship with their care team and have access to affordable care and specialized medical professionals without having to travel or encounter long wait times. Furthermore, having a patient-centered telehealth model where all aspects of care are connected leads to better overall public healthcare outcomes, benefiting men, their providers, and the overall healthcare system. 

Photo credit: Sorbetto, Getty Images

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