eVisit, a virtual care company, has recently acquired tele-consult technology from UPMC, in a move to enhance its telehealth capabilities across various care settings within health systems. The acquisition aims to support both ambulatory and inpatient care needs, allowing for more efficient and comprehensive virtual care services.
While the financial details of the deal were not disclosed, it is known that UPMC Enterprises also made an undisclosed investment in eVisit. Additionally, the company secured further investment from MedStar Health, following a successful $45 million fundraising in 2021, led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
As part of the partnership, UPMC Enterprises and MedStar Health will engage in co-development opportunities with eVisit, as outlined in a recent press release. MedStar Health has been utilizing eVisit-related technologies since 2018, initially for teletriage and provider-to-provider consultations, and later for scheduled telehealth visits starting in 2020.
One of the key technologies acquired from UPMC is the teleconsult technology, developed in 2020 during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This technology allows virtual clinical specialists to consult with bedside clinicians regarding inpatient care. Since its inception, UPMC has expanded the use of this technology to cover various clinical areas including stroke, neurology, critical care, psychology, and toxicology.
UPMC had initially developed the virtual consulting technology due to the unavailability of a commercial solution that could connect clinicians at patient bedsides quickly. The success of the platform is evident, with 40,000 consults delivered via the platform resulting in a staggering 92% decrease in wait times.
Brent Burns, the executive vice president at UPMC Enterprises, expressed the organisation’s mission to develop solutions to clinical needs and collaborate with partners to make them available to clinicians and patients outside of their facilities. eVisit’s CEO, Sachin Agrawal, affirmed the value of the partnership, emphasising the impact on a wide range of areas, from large metropolitan cities to more remote locations with limited access to healthcare services.
Established in 2014, eVisit has been dedicated to simplifying healthcare delivery for existing patients within health systems. The company works closely with health systems and complex healthcare delivery organisations to provide support for virtual care services.
As part of the recent developments, UPMC Enterprises Technology Services will offer technology advisory expertise to eVisit, while MedStar Health will provide ongoing clinical expertise, product development support, and go-to-market advisory services to advance enterprise telehealth solutions. This will be complemented by the addition of Andrew R. Watson, M.D., and Ethan Booker, M.D., to eVisit’s clinical advisory board.
The strategic partnership between eVisit, UPMC, and MedStar Health represents a significant step forward in the expansion and enhancement of virtual care capabilities within the healthcare industry. By leveraging cutting-edge telehealth technologies and expert clinical advisory support, the collaboration aims to improve access to care, streamline healthcare delivery, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes.