Portfolio News

Coronavirus: How to use telemedicine while sheltering in place

While the Bay Area shelters in place, people are increasingly turning to telemedicine to have their COVID-19 concerns and other issues addressed by doctors. Doctors say telehealth should be the default right now, although if necessary, patients can visit a doctor or hospital. Many platforms, including Bay Area-based Hims & Hers, are offering telehealth options addressing a broad range of concerns from COVID-19 to sexual health, skin conditions, colds and flu, rashes, prescription refills and more. Costs for telehealth differ from provider to provider. Some accept insurance...

COVID-19 Was Needed For Telemedicine To Finally Go Mainstream

Telemedicine promised to make health care more accessible without the need to wait at doctor’s offices. However, up until the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, few people used such services. Now services are being overloaded and waits have increased to hours. Telehealth app Amwell, which partners with health systems across the country, is quickly scaling up its technology infrastructure to meet the rapidly increasing demand. In a time when entire cities, states, and countries are under lockdown, telemedicine is providing a good solution. Both the CDC...

Providence Uses Remote Patient Monitoring For 700+ COVID-19 Patients

Health system Providence is now remotely monitoring COVID-19 patients using the Xealth digital platform to deliver Twistle’s care automation and remote patient monitoring platform. Providence is using a solution from Twistle to reach out automatically to at-risk patients through text messages, phone calls, or smartphone apps. Using this technology, the health system can gather up-to-date information about a patient’s symptoms and send alerts to their care team if their symptoms need attention. Xealth is providing the underlying platform for automation and integration into providers’ electronic medical...

6 ways to increase ICU capacity amid COVID-19

Judging from the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., April will see ICU capacity strained in many regions of the country. It’s already begun in New York City, Seattle, New Orleans, and elsewhere. Health care CEOs are trying to figure out how to increase intensive care unit capacity, whether through internal or external resources, traditional or non-traditional methods. “The biggest shift we’re seeing is health systems beginning to transform their facilities to become ICUs,” said Amwell President and CEO Roy Schoenberg, MD. “I can’t think...

Q&A: How can telehealth help lower risks during a public health crisis?

Virtual care delivered through a computer, phone, or tablet can be a helpful tool in controlling infectious diseases. With the outbreak of COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has expanded telehealth coverage for Medicare recipients, and the Department of Health and Human Services is also permitting medical professionals to temporarily practice virtual care across state lines to help address COVID-19-related emergency needs. American Well, now known as Amwell, is seeing a substantial increase in patient traffic to its telehealth application. Dr. Peter Antall, chief...