NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 26, 2024 — Ochsner Digital Medicine has announced a partnership with AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana to provide digital health services to its members. This collaboration aims to improve the management of chronic conditions such as hypertension and Type 2 diabetes through remote patient management (RPM).
AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana is part of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies and operates as a managed Medicaid health plan in Louisiana. The program will specifically target members with hypertension or Type 2 diabetes who have experienced potentially preventable hospital admissions or emergency department visits in the past 18 months. These members can be enrolled in the program through their care manager or primary care provider.
Participants in the program will use digital devices, such as blood pressure cuffs and glucometers, that connect to their smartphones or tablets. This technology allows them to take readings and submit them to their Digital Medicine care team.
If any readings indicate abnormal blood pressure or blood sugar levels, the care team will follow up promptly. The Ochsner Digital Medicine team includes a licensed clinician assigned to each member and health coaches who provide additional support alongside the patient’s primary care provider.
Ochsner Health is a leader in remote patient management and digital medicine. Remarkably, 80% of participants in the Ochsner Digital Medicine program achieve control over their conditions within six months.
Dr. Denise Basow, executive vice president and chief digital officer at Ochsner Health, stated, “Using an integrated approach to manage hypertension and Type 2 diabetes significantly benefits patients and can lower medical costs. The Ochsner Digital Medicine program effectively addresses these costly health conditions through remote patient management, allowing members to manage their health in a way that suits them.
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By partnering with AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, we can provide high-quality care to more individuals across the state, which is essential for improving access and supporting our communities.”
Kyle Viator, Market President of AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, added, “Ochsner’s hospitals, physicians, and services have been vital to our efforts to build healthier communities in Louisiana. This expanded partnership will make it easier for our members with hypertension and Type 2 diabetes to manage these chronic health issues and avoid preventable emergency room visits.”
This collaboration reflects a growing trend in healthcare to leverage technology for better management of chronic conditions, ultimately aiming to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs for patients.