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TimelyCare, the Fort Worth-based virtual health and well-being provider in higher education, is expanding its footprint.
The company said on Monday that it planned to begin offering virtual care resources to teachers, administrators, and support staff of K-12 personnel.
"Nine out of 10 public schools already struggle to hire educators, and stress is the No. 1 reason cited by teachers who intend to leave the field,” said Luke Hejl, TimelyCare CEO and co-founder. “With 24/7 access to mental health and medical care, TimelyCare helps teachers and support staff take care of themselves so they can continue to serve students.”
The company cited studies as reasons for taking this “natural next step” into K-12. K-12 workers have the highest burnout rate of any industry in the United States, according to a recent Gallup Panel Workforce Study. A 2022 National Education Association survey found that 90% of teachers are experiencing burnout. However, a 2023 RAND report found only about half believe they have adequate mental health support to deal with the levels of stress they face post-pandemic, according to the company.
TimelyCare serves more than 2.3 million students, faculty, and staff at colleges and universities across the country. Its platform is URAC-accredited and HIPAA compliant.
States, districts, and schools can provide faculty and staff a wide-ranging menu of virtual care options, including live counseling and medical care from licensed providers in all 50 states, as well as on-demand emotional support, self-care resources and a peer community exclusively built for education professionals.
Benefits to deploying the services of TimelyCare, the company, said, include the convenience of 24-hour, seven-days-a-week access; no cost or copays; reduced wait times; and a diverse provider network.
“Supporting K-12 students starts with supporting teachers. They burn out because they care, but we can't afford to lose any more good teachers,” said Chris Clark, TimelyCare co-founder and strategic advisor. “Providing critically needed virtual health and well-being support is a retention strategy that encourages educators to take care of themselves and empowers them to be their best inside and outside the classroom.”