This week virtual care provider Teladoc Health was busy, releasing news about a new product launch and a separate good will initiative.
First was yesterday’s launch of Partners HealthCare On Demand, a virtual urgent care service collaboration between the telehealth company and Partners HealthCare. Delivered through web and mobile devices, the video-based service is first being rolled out to the system’s Neighborhood Health Plan (NHP) members seeking consultations for minor illnesses and injuries.
“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,” Dr. Alan Roga, president of hospital and health systems at Teladoc Health, said in a statement. “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.”
Partners HealthCare will manage the virtual care service with the Partners Community Physicians Organization and NHP. Staffed by live Partners clinicians, the organization said they anticipate the 24-7 service to become a substantial portion of its integrated care delivery strategy.
“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,” Dr. Tony Dodek, chief medical officer of NHP, said in a statement. “This is the kind of integrated payer-provider approach to healthcare envisioned in the affiliation between Partners and [NHP], 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.”
The second piece of news out of Teladoc was this morning’s announcement that the company will be providing free general visits to anyone with a non-emergency illness who has been impacted by Hurricane Lane or subsequent ongoing wildfires.
Those in need can access Teladoc’s services by calling 855-549-2234, with separate hotline established for those being served by the Red Cross, according to the company.
“Our call center reps and board-certified and state-licensed physicians are standing by to help those families who have been displaced from their doctors and regular care seeking options, through our hotline,” Dr. Lewis Levy, chief medical officer at Teladoc Health, said in a statement.
Teladoc and other telehealth companies have increasingly been providing their remote care services to disaster victims over the past few years.
