Providence will deploy remote patient monitoring across its seven-state footprint as part of an expanded partnership with tech startup Cadence, the organizations announced Wednesday.
Following an in-home disease management program launched last June at two of the system’s Washington clinics, the partnership will initially focus on Providence’s broader Washington service area during 2023, they said. It currently supports patients with hypertension, congestive heart failure and Type 2 diabetes but will add chronic obstructive pulmonary disease next year.
“Our partnership with Cadence will extend our clinical team into our patient’s homes, allowing us to enhance the quality care we provide to patients with chronic conditions while streamlining the patient experience,” Providence Clinical Network Chief Executive David Kim, M.D., said in the announcement. “The early clinical outcomes, along with provider and patient satisfaction results, are promising and we are looking forward to the progress and momentum ahead.”
Cadence, which has raised more than $140 million from investors since launching in 2021, provides a remote care platform that collects vital signs and integrates them with a patient’s medical history. A nurse-practitioner-led clinical care team reviews and responds to the readings daily, which the company says reduces the likelihood of costly and dangerous hospitalizations.
The program at Providence currently has more than 300 active patients, 89% of which have vitals taken daily, according to the announcement.
The organizations increased adherence to guideline-directed medical therapies among heart failure program enrollees, reduced and maintained blood pressure among hypertension patients and, more broadly, only saw 0.2% of remote patient encounters escalate to Providence’s clinicians, they said.
“Providence patients enrolled in Cadence are more engaged in their care and their clinicians are supported with a team that acts as an extension of their staff,” Cadence CEO and founder Chris Altchek said in the announcement. “Our teams will remain focused on delivering transformative outcomes to patients who battle chronic conditions.”
Renton, Washington-based Providence spans 52 hospitals and more than 900 clinics. The Catholic system is the latest of Cadence’s large provider partnerships, which according to its website and prior announcements include Community Health Systems, Lifepoint Health, Ardent Health Services and ScionHealth.
Remote patient monitoring—along with similar virtual-enabled care models under monikers such as hospital at home or hybrid care—has become an appealing option for provider organizations looking to avoid high-expense inpatient stays, manage chronic cases at scale and give their patients the flexibility to stay at home.
A Chartis survey from 2022 predicted that the number of health systems looking to install such programs would double within the next five years. Meanwhile, tech companies like Story Health, Medically Home and even Best Buy are striking new health system deals expanding their capacity for at-home care.