Johnston Group, an employee benefits program administrator based in Winnipeg, has struck a partnership deal with virtual care company Teladoc Health.

Through the new partnership, the more than 30,000 small- to mid-size businesses that are a part of Johnston’s Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan can access Teladoc’s “Telemedicine Services.”

Plan members can offer their employees digital health benefits that are typically only available to larger companies such as virtual visits from a licensed doctor and online prescriptions, a release said. The service will help small businesses manage employee costs related to absenteeism for general medical conditions.

The two companies are also collaborating to offer “Best Doctors” branded expert medical services, which connects Canadians with medical specialists from around the world who can answer inquiries related to complex medical concerns such as cancer, heart disease, and musculoskeletal issues.

“Johnston Group is building on its current virtual care offering with Teladoc Health by providing more virtual solutions via a single platform,” said Johnston Group president Dave Angus. “This partnership is bringing together unrivaled market expertise and high-quality health services to support Canadian businesses from coast-to-coast, no matter their size.”

“Plan members will see a real-world impact on their business from attracting top talent to reducing the impact of workplace absenteeism,” commented Teladoc Health vice-president of global product strategy Karen Grant., who added that the partnership with Johnston Group enables them to better help businesses and their employees get the healthcare they need.