One Medical and Headspace Partner To Address Feelings of Anxiety Ahead of Doctors' Appointments With Free Meditation and Encourage Preventive Care

Two-thirds (69%) of people have anxiety about scheduling medical appointments, according to new survey data from One Medical and Headspace

SAN FRANCISCO, September 13, 2023 — Today, One Medical, the national virtual and in-office primary care organization, announced a partnership with Headspace, the provider of the world's most comprehensive digital mental health platform, aimed at reducing feelings of anxiety around medical appointments and encouraging preventive screenings. One Medical and Headspace are also providing a free meditation focused on addressing the fear and stress that many experience before medical appointments, available on One Medical’s blog.

A survey of 2,035 people across the U.S., conducted by One Medical, Headspace, and The Harris Poll, revealed that two-thirds (69%) of people have anxiety about scheduling medical appointments.

Other highlights from the survey include:

• Nearly three-quarters (71%) look up symptoms they may be experiencing online before making an appointment or visiting a doctor
• Two-thirds (67%) of people put off going to the doctor, including 89% of Gen Z respondents. The majority of people put off going to the doctor due to life being too busy (22%), feeling healthy and not seeing a need (19%), anxiety around going to the doctor (18%) and cost of the appointment (18%)
• A majority (88%) of Gen Z respondents have anxiety scheduling appointments and nearly four in 10 (35%) say they don’t like talking on the phone to make the appointment
• Over half (56%) of Gen Z respondents are nervous about contracting an STI, yet less than one-third (30%) have had an STI screening in the last year
• A little over one-third (37%) of Gen Z respondents haven’t had an STI screening in the past year say it’s because they haven’t had any symptoms, even though common STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea can often show no symptoms

Through clinical research, 30 days of Headspace has been proven to reduce stress by 32%, and eight weeks of Headspace has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety. Through this collaboration and meditation offering, ‘Before a Doctor’s Appointment’ led by Headspace's director of teaching, Eve Lewis Prieto, One Medical and Headspace are empowering patients to prioritize their mental and physical health, and ensure they stay up-to-date on preventive screenings.

“Whether it’s because they’ve had past experiences, are worried about outcomes, or the idea of finding time to visit the doctor is overwhelming, many people are putting off preventive care due to stress and anxiety,” said Natasha Bhuyan, vice president of in-office care at One Medical. “Preventive screenings are our most important tool in ensuring patients get the care they need before it’s too late. At One Medical, our goal is to make the care experience easier for patients, from providing on-demand access to providers through our app, to appointments that start on time and offer more uninterrupted time between patients and providers. In collaboration with Headspace, we are now able to offer a free meditation as another tool to make visiting the doctor’s office a more pleasant experience.”

“Many people face stress or feelings of anxiety ahead of medical appointments - it’s completely normal,” said Lewis Prieto. “A meditation and mindfulness practice may help to alleviate some of these feelings, by creating a sense of balance and safety.”

One Medical’s care experience is designed to reduce anxiety for members and mitigate white coat syndrome through its 24/7 on-demand virtual care, convenient access to primary care appointments that start on time and provide uninterrupted, dedicated time between patients and primary care providers. The One Medical app makes it easy to book appointments, addressing the common anxiety of being stuck on hold (27%) people often face when it comes to scheduling. One Medical offers a welcoming health care environment where doctors go by their first names, appointment times are longer so doctors can get to know patients on a personal level, and there’s no need for patients to put on paper gowns or tell the whole waiting room why they’re there. With this partnership with Headspace, One Medical is finding new ways to get people into the doctor’s office and receive the care they need.

“Physical and mental health are so closely intertwined. Incorporating a meditation and mindfulness practice into your routine can help you focus on the present moment and effectively manage emotions, including anxiety, as they arise,” said Dr. Dana Udall, chief clinical officer, Headspace. “We are excited to work with One Medical to help alleviate feelings of anxiety that may be hindering patients from visiting their doctor and getting the preventive screenings they need.”

About One Medical

One Medical is a U.S. national human-centered and technology-powered primary care organization with seamless digital health and inviting in-office care, convenient to where people work, shop, live and click. One Medical’s vision is to delight millions of members with better health and better care while reducing costs within a better team environment. One Medical’s mission is to transform health care for all through a human-centered, technology-powered model. Headquartered in San Francisco, 1Life Healthcare, Inc. is the administrative and managerial services company for the affiliated One Medical physician-owned professional corporations that deliver medical services in-office and virtually. 1Life and the One Medical entities do business under the “One Medical” brand.

About Headspace

Headspace is your lifelong guide to better mental health. We make mental health support accessible to everyone, no matter their background or experience. Through our flagship Headspace app, we provide mindfulness tools for everyday life, including meditations, sleepcasts, mindful movement and focus exercises. Our enterprise offerings combine this experience with a human-centered model of care, with coaching, therapy, psychiatry and EAP services under one roof. Our team of experts ranges from mental health clinicians to Emmy award-winning producers and data scientists, working together as one to help millions of people around the world be healthier and more productive. To learn more, please visit headspace.com.