Partners HealthCare announced recently that it has deployed a new telehealth initiative called Partners HealthCare On Demand. Working in conjunction with Teladoc Health, Partners HealthCare is offering a new solution for urgent care video visits, providing urgent care services from Partners HealthCare clinicians for minor illnesses and injuries.
Partners HealthCare On Demand will first be exclusively offered to commercial members of the system’s health plan, Neighborhood Health Plan (NHP), which will become AllWays Health Partners on January 1, 2019. Patients will be connected to providers through a secure video visit accessed through the web or a mobile device.
“Partners HealthCare has long been committed to a patient-centric care delivery approach, and our telehealth strategy will help to improve patient access to care, and empower individuals to be more engaged with their health. Moving forward, this will be a big part of our care delivery strategy and we expect usage to increase in the future,” said Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, VP, Connected Health, Partners HealthCare. “This is an important step toward fully integrated care delivery, and we're pleased to be working with Teladoc Health, as we continue to improve the experience for our patients and providers alike, making healthcare more accessible, personal and efficient.”
The Partners telehealth initiative is being managed by Partners Connected Health, in collaboration with Partners Community Physicians Organization and Neighborhood Health Plan. Partners Connected Health is leveraging digital health technologies to deliver quality patient care outside of traditional medical settings, including programs for medication adherence, care coordination, chronic disease management, prevention and wellness.
“We’re delighted to be able to offer urgent care from Partners’ world-class clinicians to NHP’s commercial members on a 24/7 basis,” said Tony Dodek, MD, chief medical officer, Neighborhood Health Plan. “This is the kind of integrated payer-provider approach to healthcare envisioned in the affiliation between Partners and Neighborhood Health Plan, and it’s part of our broader collaboration to improve health outcomes and avoid more costly care down the road by providing the right care, at the right time, and in the right place.”
Data from a 2017 survey conducted by Teladoc Health found that virtual care delivery is becoming an important option for health systems, with 68 percent of respondents reporting that they are using telehealth to treat existing patient populations. Additionally, 62 percent of health systems are treating their own employees and covered dependents through telehealth.
“A recognized leader in connected health, Partners is leading the way in telehealth with their vision for a long-term connected care strategy for their diverse patient populations,” said Alan Roga, MD, president, hospital and health systems, Teladoc Health. “Partners’ selection of Teladoc Health demonstrates the unsurpassed value we are providing to health systems to address their unique business need, and we look forward to supporting them on this initiative and helping to scale and expand their telehealth programs.”
Ken Briodagh is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience under his belt. He is in love with technology and if he had his druthers would beta test everything from shoe phones to flying cars.Edited by
Ken Briodagh
