PA Health System Launches Subscription-Based Virtual Care Service

Known as COMMpanion, a new virtual care service from Penn State Health provides its patients with access to primary care services through features such as messaging and phone calls.

Penn State Health defines its mission as enhancing the health of all people inside and outside Pennsylvania.

To achieve this goal, the organization is providing its patients with access to a virtual primary care service. The COMMpanion service allows patients to connect with providers, nurses, and care navigation staff between 7 am and 7 pm. The modalities through which communication can occur include messaging, phone calls, and video.

“It’s important to provide much-needed primary care where it’s most convenient for our patients,” said Chris LaCoe, vice president of virtual health at Penn State Health, in a press release. “Subscribers will be able to connect with a provider within minutes, and keep in touch as often as necessary through the text and call functions.”

Penn State Health also indicated that this service allows patients to build more easily and effectively relationships with providers. The care team answers patient questions and provides health coaching and care navigation. Initially, the team includes two physicians, three nurse practitioners, along with nurses and health navigators.

This service is currently in the beta testing stage. Penn State Health is currently providing the service to Penn State College of Medicine students in the medical, graduate, and physician’s assistant programs and their dependents.

“We are pleased to be partnering with COMMpanion to offer our students easy access to high-quality care with flexibility to suit their unique schedules and needs,” said Cassie Farrelly, chief operating officer at the College of Medicine, in the press release.

Although subscriptions for this program will begin at $9.99 per month, students will receive a discounted price offering of $5 per month. The service includes tiered subscription plans, and access will depend on the selected plan.

Among technological advances, the use of virtual tools in healthcare and primary care is growing.

In March, for example, ChristianaCare began a virtual primary care practice to provide various communication channels for patients to work with a primary care team.

Offered to residents of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey, this program is available via subscription. After signing up, patients begin working with a care team consisting of a primary care provider, a nurse, and a patient digital ambassador. Patients also receive a personalized health kit, including monitors for blood pressure, weight, and temperature.

Further, research supports the implementation of virtual primary care programs.

In March, Epic Research described study results indicating that primary care-related telehealth visits often did not require in-person follow-ups.

Researchers came to this conclusion after reviewing millions of telehealth visits for primary care from its Cosmos database. While reviewing data, they aimed to determine whether in-person follow-up visits took place within 90 days of the telehealth visit within the same primary care specialty. They found that 61 percent of primary care telehealth visits did not result in an in-person follow-up in the same specialty within the given time frame.