URMC Announces First-of-its-Kind Alliance to Expand Health Care Access to Rural Communities

Rhea-AI Summary

The University of Rochester Medical Center partners with Five Star Bank to provide telemedicine stations at bank branches in rural communities. The initiative aims to improve health care access and wellness outcomes in Upstate New York. The partners include Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI), Higi, Modivcare (NASDAQ: MODV), DexCare, Inc., and Verizon Business. The initiative is the first of its kind, bringing together a health system and a financial institution to provide telemedicine-equipped health stations to rural communities.

Insights

Healthcare Technology Analyst

Integrating telehealth services within rural banking locations represents an innovative approach to addressing healthcare disparities in rural communities. The strategic placement of telemedicine stations in banks leverages existing infrastructure to enhance healthcare delivery. By utilizing this model, the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is pioneering a solution that could potentially reduce barriers to care such as transportation and accessibility.

From a technology perspective, the partnership with companies like Higi and DexCare indicates an investment in advanced health engagement platforms and care access systems. These systems are designed to streamline patient flow and improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery. The involvement of Verizon Business suggests robust telecommunications support, which is critical for high-quality telemedicine services. If successful, this initiative may serve as a blueprint for other regions facing similar access issues, potentially leading to an expansion of telehealth infrastructure investments.

Market Research Analyst

The collaboration between URMC and Five Star Bank underscores an emerging trend where non-healthcare businesses play an active role in community health initiatives. For stakeholders, this partnership could indicate a new market opportunity where financial institutions diversify their services to include health-related offerings. This could create a competitive advantage for Five Star Bank by increasing foot traffic and strengthening customer relationships.

Moreover, the initiative may have implications for rural economic development. Improved health outcomes can lead to a more productive workforce and reduced healthcare costs, which are beneficial for the long-term economic stability of these communities. As a result, businesses operating in rural areas might experience indirect benefits from a healthier local consumer base.

Public Health Expert

The initiative launched by URMC targets a critical public health issue: the care gap in rural communities. The data supporting higher mortality rates from chronic conditions in these areas highlight the need for innovative solutions like the telehealth stations. By providing easier access to preventive care and regular health monitoring, this program could lead to earlier detection of health issues and better management of chronic diseases.

Long-term, this could translate into improved health outcomes and reduced healthcare expenditures for the region. However, the success of such a program will depend on effective community engagement and the ability to integrate these services seamlessly into residents' lives. Monitoring the utilization rates and health outcomes resulting from this initiative will be essential to evaluate its impact and scalability.

 Initiative aims to close the care gap through a network of telemedicine stations, conveniently located at local Five Star Bank branches

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The University of Rochester Medical Center today announced a first-of-its-kind initiative to improve health care access and wellness outcomes in rural communities in Upstate New York through the distribution of telehealth stations conveniently located at local bank branches. Woven into the fabric of rural towns, banks offer the ideal physical location to bridge the geographic divide between patients and providers, offering a vital touchpoint to reach an underserved population.

To deliver care in a new way, the URMC initiative unites multiple partners, including Five Star Bank, the wholly owned community bank subsidiary of Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI); Higi, a consumer health engagement company and a service of Modivcare (NASDAQ: MODV); DexCare, Inc., a patient demand and care access platform; and Verizon Business.

“This unique service is possible only because of the generous partners that banded together with a single, honorable mission: to improve the health of rural communities,” said URMC Chief Digital Health Officer Michael Hasselberg, Ph.D.

“Our capability to bring virtual care to patients went mainstream when needs arose during the pandemic,” Hasselberg said. “This pilot is the next evolution, bringing telemedicine to those who may lack access to technology at home. They now can visit a trusted location in their community and get the care they need, as well as check key health indicators to promote preventive care.”

The initiative is the first time a health system and a financial institution have partnered to provide telemedicine-equipped health stations to rural communities.

“We are incredibly proud to partner with such innovative and forward-thinking organizations as we work together to address what we see as a clear link between financial and physical well-being,” said Five Star Bank President and CEO Martin K. Birmingham. “As a community bank serving much of Western and Central New York, we understand the unique challenges our rural communities face. We also appreciate the transformative role technology can play and believe this pilot has the potential to meaningfully improve the long-term health of our overall region.”

“Local banks and health care providers are trusted institutions – bringing them together to reach more people and to deliver more care is essential to creating healthier communities,” said Derek Streat, CEO of DexCare. “A digital visit is a building block for patients to regain control of their wellness, and an opportunity for health systems to expand their footprint to deliver more care and services.”

Americans living in rural regions experience significant health disparities, due in part to limited access to health care. They are more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory disease than those living in urban areas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This pilot initiative will serve three rural communities – all with limited health care providers and where many residents lack broadband home internet. Higi Telehealth-Enabled Smart Health Stations, which measure key health indicators including risk for high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart attack, and stroke, are installed in private, enclosed spaces in three Five Star Bank branches. The health stations allow users to connect with UR Medicine providers through virtual appointments facilitated by DexCare’s virtual on-demand platform and connected to the internet by Verizon’s fixed wireless access (FWA).

“We’re honored to partner with organizations who have made it their priority to better health outcomes for those who are often left behind” said Jeff Bennett, Modivcare’s Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer. “Health begins in the community, and the ability to leverage Higi’s technology to deliver a more accessible, seamless experience, is core to our mission. This special coalition has been able to bring a powerful set of assets to deliver a seamless experience for the consumer and provider. It is truly an incredible opportunity to change the way the Finger Lakes Region accesses virtual care.”

With 15 percent of the U.S. population living in rural areas and more than 10 percent living in poverty, modernizing where, when, and how care is accessed is critical to improving long-term health care outcomes. Within the Finger Lakes Region of New York, which this initiative serves, analysis of New York State Department of Health data by Common Ground Health suggests lower socioeconomic status is the leading driver of health inequities, resulting in nearly 20,000 years of potential life lost in the region annually.

“We’re thrilled to work with such innovative players in the healthcare space providing the connectivity that helps bridge the digital divide and bring equitable care to underserved communities,” said Gary Lynch, Global Practice Lead & CTO for Healthcare, Insurance and Life Sciences, Verizon Business.

For this pilot, the health stations are located in private, enclosed spaces at select Five Star Bank branch locations in Seneca and Steuben counties:

• 323 West Washington Street, Bath, NY 14810
• 2168 North Street, NY-96A, Ovid, NY 14521
• 1 South Main Street, Wayland, NY 14572

In addition to support from Five Star Bank, Higi, DexCare, and Verizon Business, the pilot received funding from the New York State Health Foundation, the American Heart Association, and the Greater Rochester Health Foundation.

More information about this innovative initiative is available at healthstation.urmc.edu.

About URMC

The University of Rochester Medical Center forms the centerpiece of the University of Rochester’s health research, teaching and patient care missions. The University’s health care delivery network is anchored by Strong Memorial Hospital, the 886-bed, University-owned teaching hospital designated by the New York State Department of Health as a Level One Regional Trauma and Burn Center for adults and children, and is home to Upstate New York’s only cardiac and liver transplant programs and the region’s only kidney transplant program. The health system has six affiliate hospitals located outside of the Rochester metropolitan area, as well as multiple primary care practices and specialty clinics.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240206328802/en/

Media contacts:

Karin Gaffney Christensen, URMC

585-704-3151

karin_gaffney@urmc.rochester.edu

Kate Croft, Five Star Bank

716-860-5636

klcroft@five-starbank.com

Source: University of Rochester Medical Center

FAQ

What is the initiative announced by the University of Rochester Medical Center?

The initiative aims to improve health care access and wellness outcomes in rural communities in Upstate New York through the distribution of telehealth stations conveniently located at local bank branches.

Who are the partners involved in the initiative?

The partners include Five Star Bank, Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI), Higi, Modivcare (NASDAQ: MODV), DexCare, Inc., and Verizon Business.

What is unique about the initiative?

It is the first time a health system and a financial institution have partnered to provide telemedicine-equipped health stations to rural communities.

What are the potential benefits of the initiative?

The initiative aims to bridge the geographic divide between patients and providers, offering a vital touchpoint to reach an underserved population, and improve the long-term health of the overall region.