Greater Austin a model for integrated healthcare in the US, coordinating patient care across traditionally siloed public and private entities and clinical and non-clinical providers
AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Watershed Health, the company driving patient care coordination across the healthcare ecosystem, today announced that it is powering a pioneering healthcare initiative to redefine patient care in Austin and Travis County, Texas. For the first time, providers will be connected to a single health record, enabling care coordination with real-time patient insights. The initiative will improve patient outcomes and enhance healthcare quality and access across the region.
“We are a city of innovation focused on improving the quality of healthcare for our population with this pioneering endeavor,” said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. “Our community is tapping the power of technology to improve people’s health and save lives across Central Texas. Austin will be a model for other communities committed to bettering patient care by working together.”
The coordination initiative started with Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin and Central Health. Partners now include:
- Austin Public Health
- Integral Care
- Travis County Sheriff’s Office
- Major health systems and health plans
Uncoordinated care costs Greater Austin an estimated $2.2 billion in wasted resources, a figure the initiative aims to curb, along with improving provider insights into patients’ health and boosting collaboration between stakeholders. Left “untreated,” uncoordinated care is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in the United States, and can result in duplicate testing, medication errors, delayed or missed diagnoses, fragmented communication, confusion and frustration, increased emergency room visits and unnecessary hospitalizations, and difficult transitions from hospital to home, to name a few.
“We are redefining what healthcare means in a community by seamlessly connecting the biggest entities in healthcare to single physician practices in Austin, and everyone in between. Uncoordinated care is a critical and widespread challenge that overwhelms providers and jeopardizes patient health. This initiative is enabling a comprehensive understanding of each person’s health status, the partners involved in their care, and how to manage patient care collaboratively and effectively in real-time, while freeing providers of thousands of wasted hours seeking information by fax and phone,” said Effie Carlson, CEO of Watershed Health. “Across hospital systems, health plans, public health, mental health, academic medicine, post-acute care and county departments, we are breaking down barriers in the care continuum to optimize healthcare delivery for Austin’s population.”
Healthcare Information Exchange for Better Provider Cooperation and Improved Patient Outcomes
Watershed is powering an information exchange in Austin-Travis County that connects the healthcare ecosystem. Its platform serves as the central hub for a patient’s clinical and non-clinical providers by offering a real-time, shared patient record at the point of care, encompassing clinical documents, current health status, social determinants of health (SDOH) such as food, housing, and transportation needs, as well as contact information. This enables care partners to understand patient status, communicate seamlessly, implement care plans effectively, and make well-informed treatment decisions.
“By equipping providers with real-time patient insights, we’re not just facilitating information flow, we’re empowering a network that prioritizes integration and continuity of care,” said Dr. Claudia Lucchinetti, dean of Dell Medical School and senior vice president for medical affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, which is building an integrated academic medical center on the UT campus. “Our goal is to improve the experience for our patients and the community, eliminate inefficiencies, and support the development of a health system that will provide high-quality, person-centered, integrated care for all.”
Leadership during COVID-19 parlays into care coordination commitment
Austin had one of the lowest mortality rates in the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic and was recognized as a model for community-wide cooperation. Realizing these benefits long term, Austin authorities and hospital executives committed to collaborating on information, streamlining processes, and enhancing efficiency across the city’s ecosystem. Healthcare leaders in Travis County are now addressing persistent gaps in care coordination with this same commitment.
“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of collaboration in healthcare across the community. Hospitals faced unprecedented demand, and healthcare providers struggled to share vital patient information while managing scarce resources,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin Travis County Health Authority and Medical Director of Austin Public Health. “After that, we committed to address broader care challenges head-on together, making Austin an example of connected healthcare for other cities to emulate. Watershed has helped us operationalize connecting healthcare throughout our community to improve our populations’ lives.”
«Many of the patients we care for come from underserved populations and face complex health challenges that require intensive coordination across multiple providers,” said Dr. Patrick Lee, President and CEO of Central Health. “Without that coordination, there is a risk for patients to experience gaps in their care. With this initiative, we’re creating seamless care journeys where patients receive consistent support at every step. This robust health network across our community ensures that every individual receives the comprehensive care they deserve, when and where they need it most.»
Uniquely, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office’s participation could facilitate quicker specialized care for people in their custody. “Oftentimes, people who are booked into the Travis County Jail are in some form of crisis. It can be particularly challenging for our medical staff to obtain medical history from someone under the influence of drugs or experiencing a mental health crisis. Quick access to verified medical information would allow our doctors and nurses to offer effective medical treatment much faster,” said Sheriff Sally Hernandez.
The initiative will also ensure a smoother transition for newly released persons to access available healthcare resources in the community since their health records will follow them for optimized care support. «Previously incarcerated individuals face numerous challenges upon re-entering their communities. Including the Travis County Jail system in this program will help bridge gaps in healthcare, ensuring better access to life-saving care, addiction treatment, resources, and tracking of vital medical records,» said Travis County Judge Andy Brown. «This partnership will improve continuity of care for those transitioning out of incarceration, and Travis County could not be more proud to be part of this effort to improve health outcomes for our community.»
Invitation to Texas Providers
This connected care initiative is growing in Central Texas to rural communities and San Antonio with plans for a broader roll-out of Watershed across the state. The company is seeking additional clinical and non-clinical providers to join this program at no cost. For more information, please contact [email protected].
“Providers of all sizes and specialties should join this initiative,” said Carlson. “Participation not only strengthens our community’s commitment to equitable healthcare access, but it also helps set a benchmark for other cities, showcasing how they can elevate community health.”
Connxus, C3HIE, THSA, and Grand Valley are the Health Information Exchange (HIE) organizations. “Integral Care’s mission of ‘healthy living for everyone’ can only be realized through real-time access to whole health insights. We welcome the advances Watershed offers to our community and our regional health information exchange, Connxus,” said Jeff Richardson, CEO of Integral Care.
About Watershed Health
Watershed Health is driving patient care coordination across the healthcare ecosystem. With a focus on reducing healthcare costs, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing operational efficiency, Watershed transforms uncoordinated care into actionable workflows and insights, ensuring all members of a patient’s care team are aligned and informed. This comprehensive approach supports proactive and informed decision-making, facilitates collaboration, and drives measurable improvements in quality care and health equity. For more information, visit www.watershedhealth.com, and follow on LinkedIn.
Contacts
Media Contact:
Gina Manassero
PR Consultant
(210) 716 0362
[email protected]
