Text-based primary care service tripling physician capacity as patients turn to virtual care during COVID-19 pandemic
SEATTLE – April 3, 2020 – With a record number of patients turning to virtual care for help in the fight against coronavirus, 98point6 is tripling the size of its physician team by the end of April to serve more patients and reduce wait times. 98point6’s clinic volume has grown by more than 200% since the start of the year, with coronavirus-related concerns accounting for about 40% of all patient visits.
To empower and educate those turning to virtual care during the pandemic, 98point6 is taking additional steps to ensure patients receive a best-in-class experience. The company is launching the first-of-its-kind patient dashboard, allowing patients to see average wait times from the previous day as an indicator of what the current day could resemble.
“Virtual care plays an important part in enabling self-quarantine and physical distancing to help flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Brad Younggren, MD, chief medical officer of 98point6. “We applaud the selfless and tireless efforts of the entire medical community, especially those on the front line risking their own health and safety to treat patients. At 98point6, we will continue working side-by-side with our partners to respond as market needs evolve, and we’re as committed as ever to bringing accessible, quality care to patients across the country.”
In January, 98point6 responded within days of the first confirmed U.S. case of COVID-19 by implementing automated screening and creating clinical guidelines based on CDC recommendations. The company has kept up swiftly with the widespread need for medically-based resources and trustworthy reassurance, creating a variety of informative and relevant materials for patients and their families, most recently launching its COVID-19 Assessment Tool, available at no cost through the 98point6 app.
To aid in the growth of the physician team and continual improvement of its service, 98point6 recently closed a $43 million Series D, bringing its total amount raised to $129 million. 98point6 has more than 200 commercial contracts with employers, health plans and retail partners, providing more than 3 million members access to care from the comfort of home.
“The priority for everyone right now is working together to ensure the health and safety of ourselves, our loved ones and our communities,” said Robbie Cape, chief executive officer and co-founder of 98point6. “Challenging times like this often bring out the best in all of us, and there is no greater example of that than what we’re seeing from medical professionals and every individual practicing physical distancing to stop the spread. We’re going to get through this, stronger, together.”
For more information, please visit www.98point6.com.
About 98point6
Founded in 2015, 98point6 is pioneering a new approach to primary care. By pairing AI and machine learning with board-certified physicians, our vision is to make primary care more accessible and affordable, leading to better health. We meet consumers where they are by offering private, text-based diagnosis and treatment via a mobile app. For employers, health plans and retail partners, 98point6 increases primary care utilization among those not actively or appropriately engaged in their health—enabling earlier medical intervention and reducing overall cost of care. For more information about 98point6, visit www.98point6.com.