#United States #Frederick #Rare Diseases #TeleRare Health #Fredrick Health

TeleRare Health and Frederick Health Partnership

In a major development within the healthcare sector, TeleRare Health™ has joined forces with Frederick Health, a leading community health system in Maryland, to enhance access to vital genetic testing and patient care for individuals affected by rare diseases. This initiative aims to improve diagnostic timelines and care delivery for patients dealing with genetic conditions that often require specialized attention.

The Need for Enhanced Access to Rare Disease Care

Rare diseases, as defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), impact fewer than 200,000 individuals in the U.S. Remarkably, there are roughly 10,000 recognized rare diseases, collectively affecting over 30 million Americans. The complexity associated with these conditions often results in lengthy delays in diagnosis and treatment, highlighting the necessity for innovative solutions to tackle these challenges.

Telehealth: A Game Changer for Rare Disease Care

The partnership will harness the capabilities of telehealth to significantly improve accessibility for patients. TeleRare Health enables individuals with rare and genomic disorders to engage in genetic testing and receive the necessary care from the comfort of their homes. Patients will no longer have to navigate long wait times traditionally associated with specialty clinics.

Dr. Alex Katz, Chief Medical Officer of TeleRare Health, expressed optimism in this collaboration: "Frederick Health has been a steadfast innovator in genetics for over a decade... this partnership expands access for rare disease patients in the region using convenient video visits to drive better outcomes."

Key Features of the Partnership

The collaboration between TeleRare Health and Frederick Health has three essential components:
1. Access to Evaluation: Patients requiring genetic testing evaluations can swiftly obtain assessments within the Frederick Health system without needing referrals from outside providers.
2. Utilization of Technology: By leveraging telehealth solutions and asynchronous care, the partnership aims to minimize the historically long queue times faced by prospective patients.
3. Integrated Care Delivery: The integration of genomics-informed medical care into standard healthcare protocols ensures seamless service delivery without altering existing clinical workflows.

Patricia Rice, Clinical Director of Precision Medicine and Genetics at Frederick Health, emphasized the advantages of the partnership, stating, "We're excited to increase our capabilities through this novel partnership with TeleRare Health... providing patients access to the same high-quality medical care and cutting-edge technology found in advanced care centers."

A Vision for the Future

TeleRare Health seeks to transform the landscape of rare disease care and genomics. Their mission includes enhancing the Time to Diagnosis (TTD) and Time to Treatment Initiation (TTI) for affected patients and addressing the existing gaps in care.

With more than 4,000 personnel and a robust infrastructure of 25 service locations, Frederick Health is well-positioned to respond to the growing public health needs of the rapidly increasing population in Frederick County, which has seen a nearly 40 percent rise in the last 25 years.

Conclusion

The collaboration between TeleRare Health and Frederick Health signifies a proactive step towards improving healthcare delivery for rare disease patients. By harnessing the power of telehealth, this partnership aims to provide innovative care solutions, expedite diagnosis and treatment processes, and ultimately ensure that patients receive the comprehensive support they deserve. For more information about TeleRare Health and their services, visit telerarehealth.com.