Two Providers Join Forces to Launch Virtual, In-Home Care Company

Formed through a collaboration between the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the MetroHealth System, the comprehensive care company known as Ovatient aims to enhance healthcare delivery by offering virtual and in-home care.

MUSC is the only comprehensive academic health system in South Carolina. It provides education for over 3,000 students within six different colleges per year and offers training to more than 850 residents and fellows.

The MetroHealth System is a public, safety-net hospital system located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. With four hospitals and more than 20 health centers, it includes 8,000 employees.

As nontraditional healthcare delivery methods, like telehealth, remain popular amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, MUSC and the MetroHealth System created Ovatient to enable them to pool resources to offer access to acute and procedural care virtually and in the home.

“We are positioning Ovatient not just as a company but as a care model that puts patients first,” said Akram Boutros, MD, MetroHealth's president and CEO, in a press release. “Ovatient redesigns the way patients receive care and through its holistic, innovative approach will help patients access high-quality care, informed by the clinical experts at our respective health systems, anytime and everywhere.”

Ovatient will work with clinicians and care teams at both health systems to build technology to support clinical workflows and ensure care continuity. According to the press release, the newly formed company will also enable the health systems to address workforce challenges by joining forces and increasing access to behavioral health and specialty care providers.

“Built for health systems, by health systems, Ovatient represents an opportunity to multiply our collective wisdom and clinical expertise in telehealth and care delivered in the home. We look forward to partnering with other like-minded health systems who believe that together, we can make history by creating a new way of serving patients and addressing their health needs,” said Patrick J. Cawley, MD, MUSC Health's CEO and executive vice president of health affairs, in the press release.

Various organizations have recently aimed to improve healthcare delivery by developing at-home care resources.

In October, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Amedisys, and Contessa worked to create a comprehensive program to provide at-home services related to recovery, rehabilitation, palliative, primary care, and home health. Known as UAMS Health Comprehensive Care at Home, the program aimed to enhance patient satisfaction while keeping costs low.

In addition, research has shown that telehealth and other modes of virtual care delivery can effectively support patient care, particularly for those with chronic conditions.

A study from August described a comprehensive telehealth approach that improved outcomes for diabetes patients. Researchers found that the program provided benefits and was a worthwhile investment. The program included telemonitoring, self-management support, diet and activity support, medication management, and depression support.