National telehealth leader American Well® announced today that its direct-to-consumer app, Amwell, has been named the top platform for online therapy services by Wirecutter. This recognition underscores the Company’s commitment to extending behavioral health care services at a time when only about one-quarter of the nation’s mental health patient needs are met.
“Telehealth is breaking down the barriers generally associated with behavioral health – such as stigma and lack of access to quality care,” says Dr. Lindsay Henderson, PsyD, director of Psychological Services at American Well. “We know from our own consumer survey that all demographics, but especially millennials, are willing to use telehealth for behavioral health. It’s important that we meet patients where they are and where they are comfortable, and telehealth provides an important means by which to do this.”
According to Wirecutter, Amwell stood out amongst five other telehealth platforms for:
- Its unique interface and ability to make the therapy experience feel most like a traditional in-person visit. For example, patients can hide the view of their face on their own screen during the appointment.
- Offering more therapists than other platforms, providing patients increased options to choose a provider that best fits their needs and preferences.
- Its high level of security and accreditation by the American Telemedicine Association.
“We’re proud to be recognized for our efforts in behavioral telehealth and for the unparalleled capabilities of the Amwell telehalth service,” says Dr. Peter Antall, MD, Chief Medical Officer at American Well. “We’ve long believed that we have the best network of behavioral health providers and therapists and to receive a strong recommendation from the leading consumer review guide, Wirecutter, validates our efforts to provide highest quality and convenient behavioral health care.”
As part of the review process, a panel of seven Wirecutter employees searched for therapists on five behavioral telehealth platforms – including Amwell, MDLive, Doctor On Demand, BetterHelp and Talkspace. The reviewers resided in seven different states, and their preference for therapists ranged from the type of therapy offered to provider identities. Testers took into account not only the interfaces, but also pricing, platform security, accreditation, the number of therapists available, ease of scheduling, and whether they were able to find a therapist who suited their needs and preferences.
American Well’s deep commitment to the behavioral health space extends far beyond its direct-to-consumer offering. The Company recently acquired Aligned Telehealth, a leader in behavioral telehealth and telepsychiatry services for hospitals and health plans. American Well’s leading digital care delivery platform, combined with Aligned Telehealth’s growing network of behavioral health experts, allows American Well to deliver programs that hospitals, health plans and the industry at large can leverage to address behavioral health access and treatment.
About American Well
American Well is a leading telehealth platform in the United States and globally, connecting and enabling providers, insurers, patients, and innovators to deliver greater access to more affordable, higher quality care. American Well believes that digital care delivery will transform healthcare. The Company offers a single, comprehensive platform to support all telehealth needs from urgent to acute and post-acute care, as well as chronic care management and healthy living. With over a decade of experience, American Well powers telehealth solutions for over 160 health systems comprised of 2,000 hospitals and 55 health plan partners with over 36,000 employers, reaching over 150 million lives. For more information, please visit AmericanWell.com.
