Comcast, Independence Health Group partner on digital health platform
The new digital health platform is expected to pilot in Philadelphia in the second half of this year, providing an educational component and telemedicine capabilities.
Telecommunications and health care? Why not? Comcast and Independence Health Group, parent company of Independent Blue Cross, have put together a partnership designed to cross yet more boundaries in an industry rapidly morphing into an as-yet-unknown form.
According to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the combination would create a new outlet to provide patients with health care information relevant to them, as well as convey telemedicine services. In fact, it adds, a source familiar with the deal says that the two companies have been working on the collaboration for at least a year.
The Inquirer report says the new digital health platform is expected to pilot in Philadelphia in the second half of this year, providing an educational component and telemedicine capabilities, although the companies plan to make it accessible nationally, across multiple distribution channels and devices.
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While one example cited in the report of how such a system might work is to get a reminder at the push of a remote button to take a dose of medication or make an appointment with one’s doctor. Another example is even more patient-specific. According to Daniel Hilferty, president and chief executive of Independence, who says in the report that the two companies were exploring how best to use technology to help consumers access health care services, there are much more direct interventions possible.
For instance, for a patient who’s just had a knee replacement, “A clinician can look at the scar to make sure the coloration is right, can ask the person to move their leg a certain way,” Hilferty said. ”They have their initial follow-up appointment remotely. There’s obviously a cost savings there.”
And Brian Lobley, president of commercial and consumer markets at Independence, is quoted saying, “We’re going to use all of the data that we have from both companies and actually be able to create specific journeys for you. Two knee replacement paths are not the same depending on your age, depending on your weight, depending on other conditions.”