ChristianaCare Aims to Increase Virtual Healthcare in Education Institutions

As the world of virtual healthcare continues to increase rapidly, ChristianaCare has forced a partnership with PursueCare and Simple Therapy to increase virtual healthcare in education institutions through comprehensive, integrated services.

ChristianaCare said it is dedicated to enhancing health outcomes, improving access to care, and reducing costs. Although the system contains various services involving primary and urgent care within several hospital locations, ChristianaCare said inspiration for the Center for Virtual Health came from the rapid evolution of virtual care.

With goals surrounding the enhancement of the Center for Virtual Health to improve healthcare in education institutions, PursueCare and SimpleTherapy offered specialty experience and intelligence to assist ChristianaCare in its endeavors.

PursueCare is an organization that works to improve Joint Commission-accredited telemedicine treatment, aiding people struggling with conditions including addiction recovery and mental health issues.

SimpleTherapy uses exercise therapy and smart technology to create musculoskeletal pain recovery solutions.

“For college and university student health services and administrators, this partnership offers a powerful new way to provide comprehensive, affordable health solutions that benefit students,” said Sharon Anderson, MS, ChristianaCare’s chief virtual health officer and president of ChristianaCare’s Center for Virtual Health, in a press release.

“In a highly competitive recruiting environment, these solutions are easy to implement and can add tremendous value. We are excited to partner with colleges and universities to strengthen their student health programs by creating a comprehensive virtual care solution to meet their student’s health care needs,” continued Anderson.

All programs in the system will contain school-specific content, offering personalized care for those affiliated with the college or university. Students using the service can access it through a digital portal, leading to a wide range of resources relating to mental health and musculoskeletal pain recovery. Researchers said they hope the program increases innovation surrounding virtual care while assisting as many students as possible.

As telehealth use expanded in recent years, school-based telehealth and telehealth partnerships with educational institutions have likewise grown.

In October 2020, schools in Missouri created a school telehealth project using funding from the CARES Act. The program intended to implement telemedicine carts in schools located in Newton County, providing students with instant access to providers from the Neosho-based hospital. 

In February 2021, the Cleveland Clinic sought to improve health among northeast Ohio school districts by creating a mobile health vehicle containing telehealth resources. At the time of this initiative, the Cleveland Clinic Children's program was about one year old and was on a path to increasing the number of mobile health vans to deliver care. The Cleveland Clinic said it targeted school systems because it can improve pediatric healthcare, leading kids to optimal long-term habits and health.