Safety Net Connect (SNC), a leading provider of innovative healthcare technology solutions, is pleased to announce the successful delivery of more than 2 million specialty care eConsults for patients in underserved populations through the Converge Next-Generation Telehealth platform.

With integrated eReferral, eConsult, and Televisit, SNC’s Converge brings asynchronous and synchronous telehealth technologies together into a single, end-to-end virtual care platform. The largest integrated telehealth platform of its kind in the nation, Converge is currently being utilized by safety net providers from coast-to-coast (including hospitals, community health centers, correctional facilities, and health plans) to provide safe, secure, and rapid access to specialty care across more than 10 million Medicaid, low-income and underserved patients in both urban and rural settings.

“With the proper forethought and systemic changes, telehealth technologies enable us to reimagine healthcare delivery in a way that can significantly reduce health inequities among at-risk populations,” shared Stan Frencher, MD, MPH, CEO of HubMD — a virtual medical group of physician specialists. “Converge is a unique telehealth solution designed specifically to increase timely access to high-quality specialty care, meeting the unique needs of safety net patients — and the providers who serve them.”

Converge has been shown to provide consistent, sustainable rapid access to specialty care. Further, Converge improves equitable access and health outcomes for safety net patients — reducing 50% of unnecessary face-to-face specialty visits and eliminating traditional barriers to care (such as transportation, work, and caregiving responsibilities). Unlike synchronous televideo alternatives, Converge actually increases physician capacity and improves care delivery by:

Incorporating eConsults as the first step of a specialty referral: enabling a specialist to provide guidance and advice to as many as 8-10 patients in an hour, while seeing patients face-to-face might result in only 8-10 visits per day.
Decreasing the number of unnecessary visits & reducing costs: instead of using an initial specialty visit to gather necessary data or test results; eConsult shifts the pre-specialty work forward for a more informed, efficient first visit at a lower cost.
Increasing ease-of-use for the Patient: when a specialty visit is required, Converge provides the patient with appointment reminders and a “one-touch” click to launch a HIPAA-secure Televisit.
“Two million eConsults is an incredible milestone; that’s two million times we were able to help connect specialists, primary care providers and patients for much needed care,” explained Chris Cruttenden of SNC. “This is why we started Safety Net Connect — and it’s what inspires us to continue innovating.”

Media Contact:
Kristine Nash-Wong
734-904-4137
kristine.nash.wong@safetynetconnect.com

SNC Telehealth Solutions, a subsidiary of Safety Net Connect (SNC), is honored to be the technology partner supporting a new direct-to-patient telehealth solution from ConferMED.

Utilizing the SeeMD™ platform from SNC Telehealth Solutions, ConferMED Live! will enable vulnerable patients in medically underserved communities to connect directly with a specialty physician. Designed to extend ConferMED’s nationally-recognized eConsult services, this novel solution will expand patient access to specialists via video — eliminating traditional barriers to care including transportation, work, and caregiving responsibilities.

“Timely access to specialists is essential for reducing morbidity and mortality in our underserved populations” said Dr. Daren Anderson, ConferMED President and Founder. “Bringing care directly into a patient’s home can dramatically improve outcomes — especially for patients without insurance or those living in rural communities.”

After receiving a referral from their primary care physician, patients will be able connect directly with a specialist who can manage their care remotely. With integrated peer-to-peer communication, the telehealth solution further facilitates coordination between primary and specialty physicians for optimal patient care. Initially launched in Central Texas with endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, and rheumatology specialists, ConferMED Live! will be available in other selected markets in early 2022.

“We’re excited to expand upon our long-standing partnership with ConferMED by integrating our asynchronous eConsult platform with our new synchronous solution, SeeMD, to deliver a fully virtual continuum of care” said Keith Matsutsuyu, CEO of Safety Net Connect and SNC Telehealth. “Our organizations are dedicated to improving outcomes in safety net communities — and increasing access to care is the most fundamental way we can begin to meet that goal.”

About ConferMED
ConferMED is a national eConsult provider improving access for patients while supporting better clinical outcomes and reduced costs. ConferMED’s national network of over 200 specialists combined with its comprehensive interoperability solution allows primary care clinicians across the country to receive guidance and advice from experts in all major adult and pediatric specialties and subspecialties. Developed by practicing primary care providers, ConferMED offers expert implementation support to ensure seamless integration into existing clinical workflows and minimal disruption or added work.
For more information, visit www.ConferMED.com.

About SNC Telehealth Solutions
With a mission to improve health equity, SNC Telehealth Solutions brings together the expertise, knowledge, and practical experience of two results-proven organizations: Safety Net Connect and Zane Networks. Together we provide innovative solutions for solving real-world problems. As Virtual Care becomes more mainstream, SNC Telehealth Solutions strives to minimize the barriers to access technology, clinical expertise, and create impactful solutions. Our marquee offering, SeeMD™, provides a unique combination of clinical resource expertise whenever the patient needs it. The solution expands the reach of a clinician and patient’s care team to continually engage the patient at a time that is convenient for all. For more information, visit snctelehealthsolutions.com.

Zane Networks, LLC, a leader in healthcare transformation services and solutions, and Safety Net Connect, Inc (SNC), a leading provider of innovative healthcare technology solutions, today announced the collaborative launch of SNC Telehealth Solutions, an initiative aiming to transform the delivery of virtual care through expanding the reach of a clinician and patient’s care team.

SNC Telehealth Solutions offers two products: SeeMD™, the company’s flagship televisit solution and Converge, which integrates eConsult, eReferral, & Televideo. SeeMD allows patients to schedule a virtual visit to see their doctor, care coordinator, specialists, and have their own family or caregiver participate in the visit, while Converge serves as an end-to-end telehealth solution — connecting medical, behavioral, and social service providers.

“At the onset of the pandemic last year, the healthcare industry faced a lot of uncertainty. However, one thing that was certain was the immediate need for access to telemedicine,” said Alexandra Jellerette, president of Zane Networks. “The collaborative launch of SNC Telehealth Solutions allowed us to extend the reach of transformative healthcare services and quickly deliver impactful solutions to the patients and caregivers when and where they needed it most.”

“Our ability to extend the clinical involvement for a patient by utilizing our asynchronous eConsult solution combined with SeeMD’s synchronous televisit capability helps to ensure impactful guidance along the patient’s care pathway,” said Keith Matsutsuyu, president of SNC Telehealth Solutions.

About SNC Telehealth Solutions
SNC Telehealth Solutions brings together the expertise, knowledge, and practical experience of two results-proven organizations. We provide innovative solutions for solving real-world problems. As Virtual Care becomes more mainstream, SNC Telehealth Solutions strives to minimize the barriers to access technology, clinical expertise, and create impactful solutions. Our marquee offering, SeeMD™, provides a unique combination of clinical resource expertise whenever the patient needs it. The solution expands the reach of a clinician and patient’s care team to continually engage the patient at a time that is convenient for all.

About Zane Networks, LLC
Founded in 2000, Zane Networks is certified as an EDWOSB by the SBA and is also certified as a Washington D.C. CBE and Maryland MBE company. Zane Networks helps organizations leverage innovative health IT tools and health data through direct technical assistance and coaching, software development and/or implementation. Zane Networks is a Management Service Organization (MSO) certified by Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC). Additionally, the company is nationally certified by the Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC). To learn more about Zane Networks, LLC, visit www.zanenetworks.com.

About Safety Net Connect
With a mission to improve health equity, Safety Net Connect (SNC) has been the leading creator of innovative health care technology, making it easier for providers and institutions to improve quality, streamline care coordination, promote evidence-based practices, and increase access to care. Since 2009, SNC has helped public and private health care organizations across the nation, successfully reach millions of low-income, underserved individuals with affordable, effective patient-centered care. For more information, please visit www.safetynetconnect.com.

Safety Net Connect (SNC), a leading provider of innovative healthcare technology solutions, is pleased to announce the results from an Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) study on the implementation and impact of eConsult in two Southern California county jail systems, which increased safe, timely access to specialty care while reducing the need for in-person specialist visits.

The study published in the March 2021 volume of NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery, reviewed the impact of Safety Net Connect’s eConsult platform (Converge) on the care of inmates at Riverside County Correctional Health Services (RCCHS) and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (SBCSD), in partnership with specialists from Riverside University Health Systems (RUHC) and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), respectively.

Results show that over a 12-month period, 20% of all cases typically referred for in-person specialist visits were treated onsite by Primary Care Providers after consultation with the RUHC and ARMC specialists. Part of this comes from the ability for a specialist to utilize eConsult to recommend the PCP order laboratory tests or imaging prior to the patient’s specialist visit, rather than ordering them at the visit and having to schedule another appointment when the testing is complete. Overall, analysis shows SNC’s implementation saved jails between $70,000 and $262,325 annually, while providing quality care.

“eConsult enabled us to bring high-quality specialty care to inmates during the pandemic, often in less than a day,” says lead author Dr. Stanley Frencher Jr., Medical Director of IEHP’s Multi-County eConsult Initiative and CEO of HubMD, a nonprofit virtual care medical group dedicated to improving access for vulnerable patients. “By avoiding travel both within and beyond jails when it wasn’t necessary, we were able to reduce risk for our patients, for the physicians, and for the jail staff¿including everyone they come into contact with.”

One provider at RCCHS noted that prior to implementation of Converge eConsult, high-priority patients who received referrals typically had to wait somewhere between two weeks and two months before meeting with a specialist at RUHS. From July 2019 through July 2020, 48% of the submitted eConsults at RCCHS were resolved without an in-person specialist visit, with a median specialist response time of 18.5 hours. At SBCSD, 17% were resolved without an in-person specialist visit with a median response time of 10.3 hours.

“We created Converge eConsult to increase equity and access to healthcare,” shared Chris Cruttenden of SNC. “Results like this show that we can change the way we deliver care without impacting (and often even improving) the quality of care delivered.”

About IEHP
IEHP, Inland Empire Health Plan, is one of the top 10 largest Medicaid health plans and the largest not-for-profit Medicare-Medicaid plan in the country. With a network of more than 6,400 Providers and more than 2,300 employees, IEHP serves more than 1.3 million residents in Riverside and San Bernardino counties who are enrolled in Medicaid or Cal MediConnect Plan (Medicare-Medicaid Plan). Through a dynamic partnership with Providers and Community, award-winning service and innovative products, IEHP is fully committed to advocating for our Members and providing them with quality, accessible and wellness-based health care services. For more information, visit www.iehp.org

About Safety Net Connect
With a mission to improve health equity, Safety Net Connect (SNC) has been the leading creator of innovative health care technology, making it easier for providers and institutions to improve quality, streamline care coordination, promote evidence-based practices, and increase access to care. Since 2009, SNC has helped public and private health care organizations across the nation, successfully reach millions of low-income, underserved individuals with affordable, effective patient-centered care. For more information, please visit www.safetynetconnect.com

Safety Net Connect (SNC), a leading provider of innovative healthcare technology solutions, is pleased to announce that an evaluation of the eManagement Program utilizing the SNC Converge telehealth platform, improved the screening, delivery, and quality of behavioral health services — while lowering the overall cost of care.

“With a shortage in behavioral health providers, we need new ways to bring the same, high-quality care to patients,” shares Chris Cruttenden, President, Safety Net Connect. “PCPs are at the heart of healthcare and have the trust of their patients; increasing their role in behavioral care is a natural next step. And these findings provide further support for this approach.”

Funded by the www.chcf.org publication evaluation-la-cares-emanagement-program California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), the JSI evaluation of the eManagement Program revealed:

75% of physicians reported earlier detection of behavioral health conditions; enabling timely diagnosis — leading to improvements in treated conditions between patient visits
Cost of behavioral healthcare was reduced with more than $770k saved from 130 averted inpatient admissions and 419 averted emergency department visits over 24 months
80% of electronic consultations (eConsults) between primary care physicians (PCPs) and specialists were resolved without the need for a specialty referral
PCPs reported high satisfaction rates with the program, and an increase in the knowledge and skills necessary to treat behavioral health conditions

How the eManagement Program Works:
Utilizing the Converge telehealth platform, participating PCPs can screen patients for behavioral health issues (including anxiety, depression, and alcohol misuse) with built-in assessment tools. PCPs can virtually consult with a behavioral health specialist for peer-to-peer guidance on a patient’s course of treatment utilizing the eConsult solution. And, if needed, patients can be referred for a face-to-face (virtual or onsite) visit to a specialist with the integrated eReferral feature. Automated documentation and reporting further facilitate care coordination and collaboration.

About Safety Net Connect
With a mission to improve health equity, Safety Net Connect (SNC) has been the leading creator of innovative health care technology, making it easier for providers and institutions to improve quality, streamline care coordination, promote evidence-based practices, and increase access to care. Since 2009, SNC has helped public and private health care organizations across the nation, successfully reach millions of low-income, underserved individuals with affordable, effective patient-centered care. For more information visit www.safetynetconnect.com

Media Contact:
Kristine Nash-Wong
734-904-4137
kristine.nash.wong@safetynetconnect.com

Safety Net Connect (SNC), a leading provider of innovative healthcare technology solutions, has been selected as a Hospital Data Sharing Project (HDSP) technology partner. Created to improve care for low-income children, adults, seniors, and people with disabilities, the HDSP will serve as a repository of healthcare data and a central hub for care coordination by connecting hospitals, care providers, and community-based social services providers across Orange County, California.

“Despite technology advances, a great divide remains between disparate health and social service providers — particularly among those caring for underserved communities,” shared Keith Matsutsuyu, CEO of SNC. “The Hospital Data Sharing Project, is closing this gap while dramatically improving care for low-income residents of Orange County.”

This initiative will enhance organizational decision making by integrating two of SNC’s leading technology solutions. SNC’s “Connect” solution will facilitate real-time notifications of inpatient hospitalizations and outpatient visits from Orange County hospital partners; while the SNC Care Collaboration platform will enable the creation and management of individual patient care plans across the continuum of care.

Combining these solutions, the HDSP will enable collaboration and efficient referral management between the health plan, hospitals, healthcare providers, and community-based organizations that provide food, clothing, shelter, guidance, and social services. This coordinated approach ensures patients receive high-quality, holistic care — while addressing the social determinants that meaningfully impact their health status.

About Safety Net Connect
With a mission to improve health equity, Safety Net Connect (SNC) has been the leading creator of innovative health care technology, making it easier for providers and institutions to improve quality, streamline care coordination, promote evidence-based practices, and increase access to care. Since 2009, SNC has helped public and private health care organizations across the nation, successfully reach millions of low-income, underserved individuals with affordable, effective patient-centered care. For more information visit www.safetynetconnect.com

Media Contact:
Kristine Nash-Wong
734-904-4137
kristine.nash.wong@safetynetconnect.com