SECAUCUS, N.J., Oct. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics
(NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information
services, and Catapult Health, the leading national provider of
employer-sponsored Preventive Checkups, have formed a collaboration
designed to help organizations facilitate virtual (telehealth)
access to clinical services for their employees and adult
dependents, with emphasis on reducing risks related to preventable
chronic diseases.
The first-of-its-kind collaboration specifically focuses on
helping employers create a highly convenient and safe way for
employees to access thorough and guideline driven preventive care
and mental health support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research
shows many individuals are reluctant to seek in-person health care
due to fear of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus, raising the
prospect that untreated, preventable conditions will progress to
more advanced disease.
"Social distancing and fear of contracting COVID-19 make it
difficult for many individuals to access preventive care services
from their healthcare providers. At the same time, employers
recognize that at-home care, technology enabled options, including
preventive care and screening, can be highly effective in enabling
prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, supporting better
workforce health and lower medical costs," said Jay G. Wohlgemuth, M.D., Senior Vice President
and Chief Medical Officer, and head of the company's Employer
Population Health programs. "Quest Diagnostics and Catapult Health
have complementary capabilities that, together, will improve the
ability of organizations to support their employees' health by
providing a patient-centric service that meets them where they are
during the pandemic and beyond."
The collaboration pairs insights from Quest's biometric
screenings offered at-home via specimen self-collection, at Quest's
Patient Service Centers, and at the worksite with Catapult Health's
new VirtualCheckup™ solution. The VirtualCheckup includes a video
preventive care checkup to allow for confidential analysis and
consultation with a nurse practitioner. Each checkup covers
personal and family health history, Quest's lab test and biometric
data, prescription drug adherence, depression screening (PHQ-9),
and concludes with the creation of a personal action plan to
include referral into employer health and benefits programs. The
consultation also screens for potential COVID-19 exposure, and
individuals identified as at-risk may be directed to COVID-19
diagnostic testing services provided by Quest.
Health plans typically reimburse Catapult's preventive care
checkups as a covered annual preventive checkup, reducing medical
costs for employers and the need for employees to visit a doctor
for the checkup.
"When people skip doctor visits, the consequences can be grave
in terms of poorer long-term outcomes and higher medical costs,"
said David Michel, CEO of Catapult
Health. "Because they sponsor much of the nation's healthcare,
employers end up absorbing these costs to a great degree. Our
unique virtual care model is designed to change that by taking
preventive care into employee's homes, thereby solving for access
to care, safety, and overall preventive care compliance."
Quest Diagnostics provides at-home self-collection to facilitate
health lab screening for diabetes and cardiovascular risk.
Employers also have the option to refer employees to one of Quest's
2,250 patient service centers for a comprehensive biometric
screening panel, including COVID-19 antibody testing.
A new Journal of American Medical Association
(JAMA)v study showed that virtual preventive care
rarely assess blood pressure or cholesterol, two vital indicators
of heart and metabolic health among patients with chronic
illnesses, and measures that are often relied upon for medication
management. This new offering from Quest and Catapult can help meet
this need by combining biometric screening with the convenience of
virtual care.
"Healthcare is complex and not every individual can navigate it
successfully alone. Virtual care that includes convenient testing
paired with clinical consultations, mental health and prescription
history, makes it easier and less complicated for employees to
access the care they need when they need it," said Wendi Mader, Executive Director, Quest
Diagnostics, Employer Population Health. "This is why Quest is
committed to investing in solutions that combine lab testing with a
virtual encounter to empower employees to easily connect to
data-driven care that improves health and reduces costs."
Several studies suggest that COVID-19 has prompted many
individuals to cancel or postpone routine medical care.
A Quest Diagnostics Health Trends™ study published
in Population Health Management of 1.9 million patients with
diabetes found that that nearly two thirds failed
to receive HbA1c testing. Another Health Trends™
study published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association found a steep decline in the rate of cancer diagnosis,
suggesting that patients delayed cancer screenings and evaluations
due to the pandemic.
Other research from the IQVIA Institute shows a 70% decline
in doctor visits during the onset of the pandemic and a study from
the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) shows that
about 1 in 4 employees are reporting depressive symptoms, such as
anxiety and feelings of tiredness, and are exercising less than
they did prior to the pandemic.
For more information on how to access the new services, visit
www.QuestForHealth.com.
About Quest Diagnostics Employer Population Health
Quest Diagnostics Employer Population Health is the leader in
employee population health management and screening solutions
designed to improve outcomes and costs for employers. With
nationwide lab access and insights from clinical data, Quest
Diagnostics provides health screenings and related population
health solutions to identify chronic disease risks, connect
employees to needed in-network care, empower better health. Quest
Diagnostics also provides COVID-19 Return to Work Services to
foster safer workplace environments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quest Diagnostics has won countless awards for its employer
population health programs, including the prestigious Everett C. Koop Award for 2020. For more
information, visit www.QuestForHealth.com.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health
outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab
results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and
treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care
management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and
half the physicians and hospitals in the United States,
and our 47,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and
with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions
that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
About Catapult Health
Catapult Health is transforming the delivery of preventive and
primary care through its VirtualCheckup™, a fully integrated
digital solution available through employers and health plans
nationwide. For more information, visit CatapultHealth.com.
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SOURCE Quest Diagnostics