Leading the way for a new standard of care

The needs are changing for patients and providers. Here’s how one key account manager is leading the way with innovative solutions.

“Absolutely Not. I’m Not Going to the Hospital.”

A podiatrist in Georgia heard this from a patient with a severe heel infection. Many patients at this wound care clinic were already reluctant to check into a hospital for a several-day stay to receive a series of IV treatments. But now during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients are refusing. This patient’s infection was so severe that the physician needed to start treatment immediately to reduce the infection and quickly schedule surgery.

“For a case like this, the standard of care used to be to admit the patient to the hospital or they might refer them to the infusion center for daily infusions if the patient is likely to be compliant,” said Joe O’Weger, key account manager in Atlanta, Georgia. “But, the standard of care is rapidly changing. With COVID-19, patients don’t want to go to the hospitals, and oftentimes, the hospitals don’t even have room for them.”

Following the traditional standard of care, the podiatrist called the hospital where he would place this patient for treatment. But, even if the patient was compliant with hospital admittance, there wasn’t space for him. The physician needed a treatment that would be fast-acting, effective and administered without a hospital to ensure compliance. That’s when he considered our therapeutic.

Ultimately, we help providers change their standard of care to meet the changing needs of patients. Everything we do is with the mindset to best serve the patient, and the result is a win-win for the patient and provider.

Joe O’Weger, Key Account Manager

Developing a patient-first access strategy

“Easy access to a treatment for both the patient and provider is so critical. Without easy access, we can’t help get our therapies to everyone who needs them. We can’t change as many lives,” Joe said. “That’s why I developed a strategy that works for both patients and providers in my territory.”With this podiatrist, when asked, Joe provided several local home health infusion contacts. They communicated with the patient’s insurance company and directly with the patient to explain the process and schedule a home health appointment for the infusion.

Innovating to meet the changing needs of patients and providers

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were challenges with the traditional standard of care. Some patients weren’t compliant with daily infusions at infusion centers or taking oral medications, and sometimes oral medications aren’t an option. Hospital stays not only interrupt a patient’s life but also involve multiple physician points of contact. With this home health infusion access strategy, patients are happy because they don’t have to go to the hospital and they don’t have to see another physician. They can stay at home and get this one-time treatment then see their physician after treatment. And, providers are happy because this access strategy ensures patients are compliant with the treatment without a hospital stay. Within 72 hours, the patient with the heel infection received a home health infusion and the podiatrist scheduled outpatient surgery.