Newman Regional Health Partners with FreeState Healthcare for Telemedicine Services
(Emporia, KS) — Newman Regional Health is pleased to announce a new partnership beginning November 2, 2020 with FreeState Healthcare, a Kansas-based company focused on providing access to quality healthcare utilizing affordable, secure technology services.
FreeState Healthcare will provide overnight hospitalist services for adult inpatients and observation patients at Newman Regional Health utilizing their leading-edge comprehensive approach with virtual, real-time collaboration of internal medicine physicians. FreeState Healthcare physicians will work simultaneously with hospital providers including those on-site in the Emergency Department and on-call hospitalist physicians.
“I am excited for the opportunities this new partnership with FreeState Healthcare provides,” said Dr. Alana Longwell, Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Hospitalist Program at Newman Regional Health. “They are a Kansas company focused on the needs of rural Kansas and their goal is to increase services and care in areas that may not be able to do so on their own. This partnership allows us to support our patients and our providers at Newman Regional Health while continuing to provide top quality care.”
Through its partnership with FreeState Healthcare, Newman Regional Health looks forward to the benefits this collaboration will provide for Lyon County’s locally owned community hospital, but more importantly, for its patients. The objectives associated with this patient-focused, technology-friendly approach are outlined as follows:
• Provide supplemental care to enhance current physician coverage.
• Ensure quality patient care experiences evidenced by improved customer satisfaction ratings and quality outcomes.
• Develop an integrated, sustainable telemedicine program to provide comprehensive services to the Lyon County and surrounding communities.
• Maintain an established physician work force within the community.
• Enhance care while improving program economics and cost efficiency.
• Utilize and track specific process measures to ensure overall improved outcomes.
“We are really excited about this partnership with Newman Regional Health and the local medical staff,” said Dr. Elisha Yaghmai, President and CEO of FreeState Healthcare. “Virtual care offers many benefits to patients, families, and providers that positively impact local healthcare. We’ve been honored to do this in several Kansas communities, and look forward to working with the entire Newman Regional Health team to bring those benefits to Emporia, as well.”
Chief Nursing Officer at Newman Regional Health, Julia Pyle, said patients and family members will be informed and educated by their healthcare team about how the process will work and what they can expect before actually receiving care virtually. “Current processes and work flows for patient care will remain the same and patients can expect to have an on-site physician care team when needed. The major change is that a patient’s physician will examine and communicate with them remotely during overnight hours with the assistance of a nurse at their bedside,” Julia stated.
Newman Regional Health’s on-site staff will work collaboratively with the FreeState Healthcare team of providers to deliver real-time patient assessments, admissions, physical examinations, and plan of care.
About Newman Regional Health: Newman Regional Health is a not-for-profit 25-bed Critical Access Hospital owned by the citizens of Lyon County, Kansas. Recognized as a Level 4 Trauma Center, Newman Regional Health provides inpatient acute and medical rehabilitation services along with a full range of emergency and outpatient care to patients of all ages in Lyon County and surrounding areas in East Central Kansas. Newman Regional Health offers 24/7 care with a newly renovated, state-of-the-art 19-bed emergency room and 10-bed Clinical Decision Unit. With a mission to improve health in the community by providing high quality care and a vision to be a valued, trusted partner and regional provider of exemplary services, Newman Regional Health receives recognition as a top Critical Access Hospital each year.
About FreeState Healthcare: FreeState Healthcare is a healthcare company dedicated to delivering affordable, accessible solutions for patients and providers. FreeState Healthcare offers care through more than 60 collaborating providers including general practitioners, internists, hospitalists, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and specialists in pediatrics, orthopedics, rheumatology, neurology, and endocrinology. FreeState Healthcare offers cost-saving, high-quality healthcare services to hospitals, businesses, and individual patients through advanced communications technology, collaborative staffing models, education, and administrative support. FreeState Healthcare is also a unique direct care provider, allowing individual patients to enjoy the benefits of direct care at a low monthly membership fee. A la carte services are available to uninsured or underinsured patients at truly affordable rates. Patients are also given the choice to utilize existing health insurance whenever helpful.