Hackensack Meridian Health to launch 24/7 virtual primary care

Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health is launching 24/7 virtual primary care in the hopes of increasing access to healthcare in its market. HMH 24/7 will go live this fall via a partnership with digital health company K Health. The platform uses an artificial intelligence chatbot for intake and data entry before connecting the patient with a virtual provider. "There is a significant population that does not have a primary care physician that they identify with," Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Robert Garrett told Becker's. "So we're always looking for ways to provide better access to primary care." Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai started a similar platform with K Health last fall. In the first eight months, that health system experienced a 15% increase in primary care patients, according to K Health. The virtual-only primary care providers are employed by (and accept the same insurance as) Hackensack Meridian Medical Group. Patients can keep the same clinician throughout their vi

Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health is launching 24/7 virtual primary care in the hopes of increasing access to healthcare in its market. HMH 24/7 will go live this fall via a partnership with digital health company K Health. The platform uses an artificial intelligence chatbot for intake and data entry before connecting the patient with a virtual provider. "There is a significant population that does not have a primary care physician that they identify with," Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Robert Garrett told Becker's. "So we're always looking for ways to provide better access to pr