​A master of arts in theology from the Western Seminary in Los Gatos, California, Elliot Sands works as the chief operating officer at SHP Foundation. Also the co-founder of CirrusMD, Elliot Sands aims to break down barriers between patients and doctors, especially for the underserved, uninsured, off-grid, and deskless employees and seasonal workers. CirrusMD’s text-based telehealth platform offers the user rapid contact with a board-certified physician.

Access to telehealth improves productivity, as employees do not have to travel physically to access healthcare unless advised. Telehealth allows access to medical care without the hassle of transit for appointments, paperwork, waiting time, and a doctor’s physical availability. Scheduling and updates can be done over a lunch-break period from any location, making it a handy tool for deskless employees or off-grid workers.

Also, telehealth offers an affordable method of accessing medical care for low-income and uninsured people. Studies indicate that in-person healthcare can cost double that of telehealth. If an employer offers CirrusMD, a patient can access high-quality, world-class medical care at their convenience without having to worry about transport, time off work, and childcare.

According to the Pew Research Center, 43 percent of employees that quit their jobs do so to pursue better benefits. Studies also indicate that most health plans do not support the needs of people of color, leaving them without quality health care. Telehealth programs such as CirrusMD support diversity, as one can easily access physicians adept at unique health requirements that accompany different cultures. For example, someone affiliated with a certain cultural practice easily locates a doctor with a similar background for a more comfortable appointment and at their convenience.

​As the co-founder of CirrusMD, Elliot Sands strives to increase healthcare access via user-centric telehealth services. Elliot Sands utilizes modern leadership techniques to guide the startup.

Implementing effective leadership techniques entails a manager or team lead allocating greater responsibilities to their employees while supporting their growth. Trusting employees with more responsibility displays a manager’s faith in that individual and their abilities more than any amount of verbal praise alone. Simultaneously, investing in professional development, like courses teaching in-demand skills, will equip each employee with the tools to succeed in their expanded role and any future roles they take elsewhere.

Some leadership techniques are more difficult to pin down and adopt, but they are just as important as learning the hard skills needed to fill a certain role. Professional development should focus on time management so that employees can work more efficiently by themselves and as a group. A solidified purpose will unify employees and provide a foundation to build all other skills.