Why Northwell is enlarging use of telehealth technologies

Care planning and coordination activities expected to improve, says Thomas Thornton.


Northwell Health in New York State is expanding telehealth services across its enterprise of 21 hospitals and 550 outpatient facilities that include physician practices, imaging centers, laboratories, surgical centers, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare and medical/air ambulance services.

The organization is working with telehealth vendor Avizia and also has made an undisclosed equity investment in the company. The investment and other funding that Avizia has acquired brings its total capital to $18 million.



Northwell already uses telehealth to support a remote virtual intensive care unit program with specialists assisting critical care teams, as well as a telestroke program enabling neurologists to quickly evaluate patients. Now, these programs will expand to all existing facilities.

Also See: American Heart Association seeks Medicare coverage of telehealth

Further, the organization, which already uses tablet computers to remotely monitor patients in their homes, will adopt technology from the vendor to support virtual consultations among physicians.

“This partnership with Avizia will certainly improve Northwell’s ability to communicate care plans across the care continuum, as well as appropriately manage care in more cost-effective settings for patients,” said Thomas Thornton, senior vice president and executive director of Northwell Ventures, which made the investment in Avizia.

Thornton also touted the vendor’s end-to-end capabilities and open technology architecture that eases integration. The company serves more than 400 healthcare organizations in 37 nations, as well as eight of the top 10 U.S. healthcare organizations.

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