Cleveland Clinic and American Well to Launch Telemedicine Company

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Cleveland Clinic and American Well today announced a partnership to launch a digital health company which will offer virtual care visits from experts at Cleveland Clinic.

The company, called The Clinic, will leverage Boston-based American Well’s digital health technology to offer online access to professionals across a variety of specialties. Patients can use the platform to receive insights, opinions, recommendations and assistance for different conditions.

“As the adoption and value of telehealth grows, there is significant potential to further advance the digital distribution of care,” said Ido Schoenberg, M.D., chairman and CEO at American Well. “Cleveland Clinic has long been at the forefront of offering virtual visits, and we’re thrilled to partner more closely with them to expand the frontiers for digital care delivery.”

This is the first time a digital health technology platform has partnered with a globally recognized healthcare provider to deliver digital solutions, Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and president of Cleveland Clinic, claimed.

Telehealth services are on the rise, with adoption up 340% in April.

Virtual care offers a more affordable, alternative option for patients in rural populations who might not have nearby access to specialists for particular conditions. These digital health services can also be used instead of in-person therapy, which could lead to stigma associated to seeking treatment for patients with mental health conditions, according to a study published in the journal CADTH.

For providers, virtual visits can be a way to see more patients in a day.

Cleveland Clinic projects that half of outpatient visits will be virtual in five years.

“Digital health is one of the fastest growing segments of the healthcare industry today,” said Mihaljevic. “There is an incredible demand for medical care to be delivered in more convenient and integrated ways… This new digital health service will provide access to world-class Cleveland Clinic expertise and quality of care for patients in the U.S. and internationally.”

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