April 10, 2020

WakeMed Foundation Expands Partnership with RelyMD to Increase Access to Telemedicine and Remote Care for Shelter Residents Throughout the Raleigh-Area

 

DURHAM, N.C. – (April 10, 2020) – RelyMD, a digital health company that provides coordinated telemedicine has expanded its partnership with the WakeMed Foundation to serve Raleigh, North Carolina-area homeless shelters with on-demand virtual care. The 9 shelters included in the partnership will leverage RelyMD to help residents receive healthcare in-place and avoid higher-cost care typically received within emergency rooms and urgent care facilities.

“It is both inefficient, and bit inhumane, to force homeless patients into the ER setting for treatment simply due to lack of better available options,” said Dr. Brian Klausner, WakeMed’s medical director of community population health. “Providing access for shelter patients to emergency room physicians through video visits was a key component of a timely, coordinated public health mitigation strategy implemented early in this pandemic to help better serve a vulnerable patient population.”

With RelyMD, any resident throughout the 9 shelters will have access to the service, available on-demand 24/7, at no cost to residents. Staff members within each organization are equipped with mobile devices and assist residents in accessing the video platform so that there are no barriers to receiving necessary care, including medication refills that would typically require an appointment.

In addition to regular needs, RelyMD is expected to act as reinforcement for helping residents avoid exposures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Where emergency rooms are often relied on for unscheduled, urgent medical conditions, it’s important to reduce potential exposures for shelter residents and healthcare workers as hospital volume is anticipated to increase.

“We are committed to fostering healthier communities and are exceptionally proud to be able to provide real-time access to healthcare for our most vulnerable residents,” said David Levin, CEO of RelyMD. “Our partnership with WakeMed continues to expand and we greatly appreciate their pursuit of innovation through the game-changing use of telehealth for their organization and the greater community.”


 

About RelyMD
RelyMD is a growing digital health company that provides a coordinated telehealth solution to health systems, managed care organizations, and employers. Founded by a group of innovative emergency medicine physicians and healthcare entrepreneurs, we’re on a mission to simplify people’s lives by delivering reliable, trusted medical care – anytime and anywhere – that fosters healthier communities and workplaces. To learn more about how RelyMD works, visit www.relymd.com.

Media Contact:
Chelsea Raegen, RelyMD
chelsea.raegen@relymd.com