Sentara forms telehealth partnership with MDLIVE

Sentara Healthcare and MDLIVE have entered a partnership that will allow the integrated healthcare system to expand healthcare access by offering patients telehealth consults with the health IT vendor’s communications platform.  

Patients will be able to ease overcrowding Sentara’s multiple locations by using telehealth consults for diagnoses of low-acuity illnesses and e-prescribing to make medicines available at local pharmacies without having to physically see a physician. More seriously ill patients who use the service will be directed to the nearest Sentara facility for treatment.

The partnership will “empower local hospital systems with the ability to provide access, quality and convenience to the community,” which is especially important at a time when millions are expected to soon join the ranks of the insured, Randy Parker, CEO of the Sunrise, Fla.-based MDLIVE, said during an Aug. 20 conference call.

As part of the agreement, Sentara received an equity stake in the privately held MDLIVE.