DispatchHealth – a company that delivers high-acuity care and other services in the home setting – is teaming up with Five Star Senior Living (NYSE: FVE).
The goal of the partnership: to bring acute care to Five Star communities and its residents.
“We believe that adding DispatchHealth’s unique care model to expand Five Star’s existing clinical services offering will bring peace of mind to families, knowing that their loved ones may be able to avoid unnecessary and expensive trips to the emergency room, where they could be exposed to more serious illnesses, such as COVID-19,” Five Star President and CEO Katie Potter said in a press release.
The Denver-based DispatchHealth has partnerships with several large health systems and payers. It has also worked with other senior living providers in the past, including Christian Living Communities.
The company has raised over $403 million since launching.
“We believe, whenever possible, it’s best to keep aging adults out of the emergency department and treat their acute medical conditions in the location they feel most comfortable,” DispatchHealth CEO Dr. Mark Prather said in the release. “[And] at a lower cost, which is what our clinical collaboration with Five Star achieves.”
Five Star owns, operates and manages independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) across the U.S.
Under the partnership, DispatchHealth workers will provide same-day aid to residents, with services including treatment for infections, asthma attacks, wounds, minor fractures and sprains – and more. The arrangement follows a pilot program during the first half of 2021 between the in-home medical services provider and the Newton, Massachusetts-based senior living operator.
Leaders with Five Star said the program helped reduce emergency room visits for residents. Additionally, because the program’s services are covered by most insurance plans, more than 85% of Five Star residents had no out-of-pocket expenses using DispatchHealth, the press release explains.
DispatchHealth is already working in 25 Five Star communities. The operator plans to expand the program to more than 40 by the end of the year, with more expected growth on the way in 2022.
“As DispatchHealth’s U.S. footprint grows, we look forward to expanding our partnership and making this unparalleled medical service available to as many of our valued residents as possible,” Potter continued.
Additional reporting by Tim Regan.
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