Amwell and Leidos achieve healthcare first for combat zone service member
Most people don't have to travel by helicopter to see their doctor. But when you’re deployed on an aircraft carrier in foreign waters and miles from shore, that's precisely what it used to take – until now.
Earlier this year, a naval service member stationed on a warship in a Middle East combat zone had a virtual visit with a specialty care provider in the U.S. – 7,000 miles away. It marked the first time a service member deployed in a combat zone received care from a healthcare provider located in the U.S.
The virtual visit lasted about 30 minutes – a significant savings in cost and time compared to the days of logistical planning and travel a similar appointment used to require. Previously, a helicopter had to fly the service member to the nearest military base for care. After receiving treatment, the patient would take a return flight to their post, in this case, to an aircraft carrier at sea.
Care across borders – no login required
So, how did this come to be? A collaboration between Leidos, Amwell, and partners facilitated this cross-continent healthcare first. The group provided a platform for virtual visits and digital care to the Military Health System (MHS) community, supporting medical and mission readiness for the nation's military.
The Amwell Platform supports the MHS community – comprised of 9.6 million active-duty service members, retirees, family members, and healthcare professionals – to access the digital care they need when and where they need it, whether deployed overseas, stationed at a U.S. military base, or in civilian housing. So far, more than 125,000 virtual visits have occurred – including the appointment between the naval service member and the U.S.-based specialty care provider.
"I served multiple tours as a medic and know how difficult it can be to connect a service member to specialty care, especially from a remote area or combat zone," said Tim Kleinsmith, director of government programs for Amwell. "As a member of the Amwell team dedicated to improving access for those I served alongside, veterans, family members and the entire MHS community, this healthcare ‘first’ for the military means a lot to me, personally and professionally."MHS patients can access on-demand or scheduled virtual visits from a smartphone, tablet, or laptop without downloading an app or using a login. For military health providers, the technology is integrated into their workflows, making it just as easy for them to connect with patients.
Service members and their loved ones never know where they'll be stationed. Their willingness to serve shouldn't come at the expense of their ability to obtain the healthcare they need. Through the Leidos and Amwell collaboration, the MHS community can access virtual visits and digital care for health needs in minutes, not days, from anywhere in the world, simply by going online — rather than taking a flight.
Contact us to learn more about how Amwell and Leidos are making healthcare more accessible to the MHS community – at home and abroad – and how we can do the same for your organization.