The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is teaming up with DispatchHealth, an in-home medical care provider, to offer Columbus-area patients care at home.
Starting July 1, Ohio State Wexner patients and providers will be able to request same-day at-home care for viral infections, COPD exacerbations, congestive heart failure and other injuries and illnesses, according to a news release. Those at-home services will be coordinated with a patient's care team. Some high-risk patients also will be able to request DispatchHealth's Bridge Care, which provides at-home care 24-72 hours after an acute care hospital stay.
"Home health continues to be a critical component to our overall continuum of care. This partnership will provide our patients high-acuity care in the comfort of their own homes, while reducing preventable hospital readmissions by connecting patients with a primary care physician or specialist," Dr. Hal Paz, executive vice president and chancellor for health affairs at The Ohio State University and CEO of Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, said in a statement. "We look forward to serving our community in new and vital ways while exceeding the expectations of today's consumer and care teams, lowering the cost of care and improving health outcomes."
Patients will be able to request care by phone, through DispatchHealth's app or website and eventually through Ohio State Wexner Medical Center's website and OSUMyChart, according to the release. An emergency-trained DispatchHealth medical team that has access to on-site diagnostics and a CLIA-certified lab will provide care similar to that provided in a walk-in clinic or an urgent care, the release said.
"The past year has shown that patients' care needs are rapidly evolving. DispatchHealth's proven value-based care approach empowers health systems to go beyond traditional care settings and meet patients where they are," Dr. Mark Prather, CEO and co-founder of DispatchHealth, said in a statement. "We are pleased to partner with Ohio State Wexner Medical Center to expand the focus on effective, convenient and affordable care outside of the typical clinic and hospital setting. We look forward to expanding our service to central Ohio through this leading partnership."
The announcement of the partnership with DispatchHealth follows a May 24 unveiling of a home health joint venture between Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Alternate Solutions Health Network expected to launch by August. While the DispatchHealth partnership will provide higher acuity care in the home for urgent care needs, the ASHN venture will provide lower acuity care for post-acute patients who require longer periods of care, such as elderly patients who are discharged from the hospital and need therapy services for a few weeks, an Ohio State spokesperson said.
"The difference in the two partnerships is the level of acuity," the spokesperson said. "Both are complimentary to each other and are important services to build out our home care continuum."
