There are many hurdles to accessing health care,
ranging from difficulty getting appointments to inability to
afford insurance or doctor visits. People often need
extra help in order to get the medical
attention they need. In no particular order, here
are a few organizations working to break down
barriers in health care.
First up at # 1 is Amwell, a
telemedicine company that connects patients with their providers
over secure video chat. The platform's coverage spans
the continuum of health care, from emergency medicine
to treatment of acute health issues. Patients can
also connect with their insurance companies and pharmacies
using the software.
Amwell allows doctors to connect with each other,
increasing access to specialists. The system is capable
of supporting multi-way video, allowing up to eight
caregivers, family members, and specialists to participate in
appointments, creating a more collaborative healthcare experience.
At # 2 is Kyruus. The company was
created in response to systemic issues common to
many health care scheduling systems. These problems forced
patients to wait for extended periods of time
to get appointments, only to end up seeing
the wrong providers. To fix this, Kyruus is
designed to enable a better, data-driven approach to
patient-provider matching.
Kyruus partners with health systems to transform how
people access care and schedule appointments. Its platform
is built to give patients a more exact
match to providers, creating a better experience for
both them and their doctors. The platform embeds
in a health system's website, enabling patients to
identify the right providers and schedule appointments directly
online.
Next up at # 3 is the World
Medical Association. This international organization provides physicians with
ethical guidance through its Declarations, Resolutions and Statements,
a document that covers a wide range of
subjects including the right to accessible and inclusive
health care. Founded in 19 47 the WMA
is an independent confederation of free professional associations.
In order to promote the highest possible standard
of ethics, the WMA distributes several publications, including
the Medical Ethics Manual, provided to academic journals
and schools each year. The organization also publishes
the World Medical Journal on a quarterly basis
to discuss emerging issues. The WMA is in
official relations with the World Health Organization, and
allies with numerous other professional associations, governmental and
non-governmental agencies, and regional associations.
At # 4 is Clover Health, a health
insurance provider with a Medicare contract. The company
works with physicians in order to reduce communication
issues between doctors and insurers. This increases transparency
for patients, leading to improved care. The provider's
Medicare Advantage plans have all the essentials, like
hospital coverage, doctor visits, and drug coverage, plus
no-cost extras, like vision dental, and hearing.
Clover Health's dedicated care management team analyzes the
health history of each patient to identify potential
risks, and gets them access to appropriate care
tests, or treatment that their doctors recommend. It
also follows up with x-rays or various tests
to help patients understand the results and next
steps.
Last up at # 5 is Community Health
Plan of Washington. CHPW was created in 19
92 when the state's community and migrant health
centers recognized that a significant number of people
were not being served by traditional insurance companies.
The group works hand-in-hand with local resources and
social service organizations to support all aspects of
members' lives, including behavioral mental, and social supports.
CHPW is committed to providing access to medical
services for Washington state residents, regardless of their
ability to pay. It also helps members connect
with community services beyond traditional health care, in
order to access essentials such as food housing,
and transportation assistance.