Ways to engage clients and patients remotely are more important than ever, including to empower them further in managing their health and overcoming obstacles to their health and that of their families.  

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A) Social determinants of health (income, housing conditions, etc.) are key drivers (and can be obstacles) affecting people's well-being, whether they are children, teens or older.  

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B) Social determinants can also affect people’s chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, asthma), which have exacerbated people’s severity of COVID-19 symptoms and unfortunately deaths. 

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C) Social determinants thus affect the immense healthcare costs in the U.S. (annually over $1 trillion for hospitals and over $42 billion in "uncompensated care" absorbed by hospitals). Hospitals and payors are moving toward value-based care, to improve outcomes and reduce costs. 

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D) As hospitals experience surges of critically ill patients, keeping other patients relatively healthy and out of hospitals also becomes more critical, both now and in the future with any other "surge" or in general.

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E) Employers can support their employees' wellness and thus also benefit their businesses.