HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Landmark Health and its affiliated medical groups (Landmark), who are on the frontlines of the current health crisis, outlined today the actions they are taking as the coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts patients and communities.
Landmark brings medical, behavioral and palliative care into the homes of older adults with multiple chronic conditions. The need for this model, which existed well before the current pandemic, is further emphasized as the U.S. is relying heavily on social distancing and shelter in place to protect each other and especially our elderly.
Landmark is in ongoing discussions with several healthcare partners and agencies on what can be done to provide the best care possible for complex patients in the home. The company is actively sourcing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) so their providers can continue to make urgent in-home visits as well as refining procedures to meet the needs of the 100,000+ patients eligible for Landmark’s care and possibly others.
The following additional steps are being implemented to keep patients, providers and employees safe:
1. Daily cross functional, multimarket collaboration
A task force including medical, clinical and operational leadership meets daily to monitor and adapt to changing CDC and public health department guidance for COVID-19. The task force shares information and education with Landmark providers, partners, and patients to minimize the risk of infection while continuing to provide high-quality care.
2. Patient outreach, education and screening
Landmark is calling all engaged patients to provide education on COVID-19 signs, symptoms and preventive measures. The team emphasizes calling Landmark immediately if they exhibit symptoms that could be associated with the disease and is documenting responses to COVID-19 screening questions in the company’s electronic medical records (EMR) system to be visible to providers in advance of urgent visit requests. Education on home care and isolation precautions is being provided by email, mail, phone and videoconferencing. Landmark has launched www.landmarkhealth.org/coronavirus with information, videos and resources for complex patients.
3. Community provider support
Landmark is outreaching to community providers to communicate refinements in care delivery for shared patients, including enhanced 24/7 clinical call center staffing to meet increased demand, along with training and staff resources to address patient anxiety. Routine maintenance visits are temporarily being performed via phone or video visit, while urgent in-home visits – where a patient has no symptoms of COVID-19 – are actively taking place with appropriate PPE to protect both patients and Landmark staff.
4. Employee communication and support
Landmark strongly supports a healthy environment and implemented work-from-home before public mandates occurred to keep employees, patients and communities safe. The company offers no-cost access to CALM, an app designed to help employees reduce stress. The communications team frequently shares important information and changes. Managers and the HR team are working directly with employees, offering flexible support where they can, depending on each employee’s situation.
Michael Le, MD, Landmark’s Chief Medical Officer and Cofounder reinforces the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the White House to help prevent illness by avoiding exposure. “Stay home. In particular, if you are over 60 and living with chronic conditions, you are at heightened risk of serious complications if you contract COVID-19. You should have essentials come to you – including groceries, prescriptions, and medical/behavioral care.”
Dr. Le stresses, “I encourage anyone living with a chronic condition to remain vigilant and proactive. Call your provider early if you have any symptoms or anxiety related to the current health crisis. A worsening of a chronic condition could force you into a healthcare system dealing with COVID-19, which we are working to avoid.”
About Landmark
Landmark Health and its affiliated medical groups (Landmark) partner with health plans and delivery systems to bring patient-centric, in-home care to complex and chronically ill populations. The company bears risk for more than 100,000 lives across 14 states and 46 MSAs. Landmark provides access to care 24/7 to patients and their families. Its value-based model relies on fully employed, local multidisciplinary care teams to help drive long-term outcomes for patients by bringing medical, behavioral, social and palliative care to individuals, where they reside and when they need it. Landmark is bringing back the house call. Learn more at www.landmarkhealth.org.
