The Colorado-based healthcare provider, serving 19 counties across the state, has leveraged a combination of technology and staffing to boost patient enrollment and engagement.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (July 25, 2023) ‒ TimeDoc Health, a best-in-class solution provider for virtual care management, chronic condition management (CCM), and remote patient monitoring, has partnered with Valley-Wide Health Systems to launch and manage a chronic care management program with patients across the state of Colorado.
During the initial pilot, which has since been expanded, more than 900 patients participated in virtual care services, tailored to the needs of specific patients with comorbidities or social determinants that can complicate in-person medical appointments. TimeDoc Health’s team of highly-trained patient care coordinators oversaw day-to-day treatment plans and vital screening needed to assess and address individual risk factors.
“We are challenged by a staffing crisis that forces us to be creative with our resources, and that’s why TimeDoc Health has been a lifeline that allows us to manage a growing population of patients across the state,” said Janelle Lucero, RMA, chronic care management coordinator for Valley-Wide Health Systems. “In Colorado, the majority of our constituents are living in rural communities – from Baca to Garfield County – and in mountainous regions that have limited access to care centers. If we can increase the frequency of when and how we connect with patients, we will be able to make more accurate decisions around their long-term care needs.”
As Valley-Wide expanded its service offerings – and physical footprint – in recent years, it became apparent that the operation would need to find a partner with a scalable technology platform that collects data and enables real-time communication between care providers and patients. Virtual care has gained popularity in recent years, helping to build trust in communities that have felt underserved or apprehensive of healthcare services.
“We want to establish a level of continuity with our patients and for them to understand that the decisions we make around care are collaborative and mindful of what’s in the best interest of the entire household,” Lucero added. “In remote areas, minor dental care or routine pregnancy check-ups can go overlooked, but we now have the capability to have a virtual visit that is informative, impactful, and keeps patients on the right path.”
TimeDoc Health has supported Valley-Wide with four care coordinators, with plans to add more staffing resources in the coming months as enrollment grows. The care coordinators are trained nurses and bilingual to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking populations, a key demographic in Colorado. The team shares a “two-way” dashboard with the patient receiving care, outlining health priorities and capturing longitudinal health data that can show the ebbs and flows of symptoms and chronic conditions. Many of those who are enrolled in the program suffer from illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.
“We’re finding, through partnerships like Valley-Wide, that our technology can increase adherence with routine screenings and ensure that the healthcare experience is more inclusive than it has historically been,” said TimeDoc Health Vice President of Clinical Strategy Sarah Cameron. “Sometimes the trip to the doctor’s can be stress-inducing and intimidating. So, it’s our goal to empower Valley-Wide with the tools that strike the right balance, understanding that no one knows their patients better than they do.”