Lessons from Kevin Riddleberger, Co-Founder of DispatchHealth, on crafting a trusted and comprehensive home healthcare experience
Jul 30, 2024
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Kevin Riddleberger, Co-Founder of DispatchHealth, brings over 20 years of healthcare expertise to the table. He discusses transforming home healthcare through technology and value-based care, alongside the unique challenges faced by seniors accessing urgent care. Riddleberger delves into strategies for engaging managed Medicaid populations and improving care coordination. He also shares insights on scaling home healthcare, emphasizing partnerships and innovative funding strategies, all while maintaining a balance between personal life and a fulfilling healthcare career.
DispatchHealth leverages technology and a mobile care model to provide high-acuity healthcare services directly in patients' homes, transforming traditional care delivery.
The company's success in overcoming initial reimbursement challenges has allowed it to achieve high patient satisfaction and substantial cost savings for the healthcare system.
Deep dives
Innovative Approach to In-Home Care
Dispatch Health aims to transform healthcare delivery by creating the largest in-home care system over the past decade. The company focuses on providing tech-enabled services for high-acuity care, allowing patients to receive treatment at home rather than in emergency departments or hospitals. This service includes managing conditions that typically require hospital care, facilitating safe transitions from hospital to home, and offering skilled nursing facility-level care within patients' residences. By addressing the pre-hospital space, Dispatch Health helps to reduce emergency visits and improve patient experiences through a more personalized approach to healthcare.
Foundational Elements for Success
The inspiration to start Dispatch Health stemmed from the founders' clinical backgrounds and experiences with existing healthcare challenges. They identified five crucial factors that supported the establishment of their company: a shift in consumer adoption toward at-home services, advancements in technology allowing mobile care, the growing acceptance of nurse practitioners and physician assistants, funding opportunities for community paramedicine, and the healthcare industry's transition from fee-for-service to value-based care. By ensuring these elements were in place, Dispatch Health aimed to create a sustainable model that met market needs and improved patient outcomes. The combination of these foundational aspects gave them the confidence to pursue their vision of in-home healthcare.
Navigating Challenges and Building Partnerships
During its formative years, Dispatch Health encountered significant challenges, including a lack of reimbursement models for the services offered and skepticism from consumers about receiving care at home. The company initially relied on historical data and partnerships with local EMS agencies to establish credibility and assess patient needs. By demonstrating positive outcomes, such as reducing emergency visits and facilitating effective home care, Dispatch Health was able to negotiate contracts with payers and earn their trust. Establishing relationships with insurers, such as Anthem, was vital in overcoming hurdles and creating a foundation for future growth and partnerships.
Measuring Impact and Future Directions
Dispatch Health has successfully treated over a million patients while maintaining high customer satisfaction, as indicated by a remarkable Net Promoter Score of 97. Their operations not only provide excellent patient care but also generate substantial cost savings for the healthcare system, with average savings of $1,200 per episode in pre-hospital care. The company is now focusing on strategic expansions into new markets and forging partnerships to tackle additional social determinants of health, such as food insecurity through collaborations with companies like Instacart. Looking forward, Dispatch Health aims to refine its operations and continue scaling its innovative model of at-home healthcare.
Today, we're so excited to get to know Kevin Riddleberger, Co-Founder of DispatchHealth.
Kevin has over 20 years of experience in both clinical and management roles within the healthcare sector. His passion for transforming healthcare delivery is evident through his focus on technology, process improvement, and enhancing quality standards.
As a board-certified physician assistant, Kevin has contributed his expertise to hospital quality improvement committees and has held the position of president at the Colorado Academy of Physician Assistants. Additionally, he plays a vital role as an advisor in Colorado’s healthcare startup community, where he provides guidance on both business and clinical matters. Prior to his role as co-founder of DispatchHealth, Kevin was responsible for leading clinical solutions and strategy at iTriage.
In this episode, we explore the founding and scaling of DispatchHealth, the challenges of reimbursement and scaling, strategies for securing payer contracts, the provider model they use, their success stories, and legal and fundraising advice for founders.
Note: Kevin did the interview in early 2024 when he was working for DispatchHealth. He has since moved to a different position.
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