Sharp Community Medical Group Collaborates with PlushCare to Bring Telemedicine to More San Diegans
Sep 12, 2018, 10:23 ET
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Sharp Community Medical Group announced a new relationship with PlushCare, a telehealth company that provides treatment from a world-class doctor on a smartphone or computer, bringing telemedicine to one of the largest managed care populations in San Diego County.
Sharp Community Medical Group ("SCMG") is the largest association of private practice physicians in San Diego. With a network of over 800 primary and specialty care physicians, working in 350 practice locations, SCMG offers members convenient access to care throughout San Diego County. Partnering with PlushCare will enable SCMG HMO members to access a doctor from anywhere, making it easier and more convenient for patients to get care.
So-called "brick and click" healthcare networks are rapidly growing in popularity, especially as smartphones and high-speed internet become more pervasive. Telemedicine is augmenting traditional care by reducing hospital readmission rates, improving medication adherence and outcomes, and reducing financial burden for patients.
"We are pleased to offer our HMO members the added convenience of access to on-demand PlushCare visits at a significantly discounted fee," said Dr. Kenneth Roth, President of Sharp Community Medical Group. "It is one more way that Sharp Community Medical Group is providing patients the ability to access the care they need, when and where they need it."
Delivering convenient and quality care in 2018 means providing access to the best doctors, 24/7. PlushCare only hires physicians from top medical institutions and patients rate their service the highest amongst telemedicine offerings on Google, Facebook and the Apple App Store. PlushCare doctors can diagnose, recommend treatment and prescribe medications online for almost all non-emergency medical issues including: cold/flu, bronchitis, allergies, pink eye, respiratory infections, sinus infections and more. The telemedicine offering will provide SCMG HMO members with another convenient way to access care, particularly during the fall and winter, when acute issues like cold/flu are widespread.
PlushCare CEO and co-founder, Ryan McQuaid said about the partnership, "We're thrilled to partner with such a forward thinking organization. We look forward to bringing the highest patient-rated online medical experience to Sharp Community Medical Group members."
SCMG HMO members will be able to access PlushCare appointments for $30 through www.scmg.org. For non-HMO patients, a PlushCare appointment is $99, or a copay with most private insurance plans.
About Sharp Community Medical Group
Sharp Community Medical Group is the largest group of physicians in private practice in San Diego. With a network of over 800 primary care and specialty physicians working in 350 locations in San Diego County, Sharp Community Medical Group offers families convenient access to doctors and hospitals in their own community. The physicians in Sharp Community Medical Group's network represent over 30 specialty areas, and have access to over 20 urgent cares and 10 local hospitals, including all Sharp HealthCare, Palomar Health and Rady Children's Hospitals. To learn more about Sharp Community Medical Group, visit www.scmg.org.
About PlushCare
PlushCare is a doctor in your pocket. PlushCare's telemedicine solution allows anyone to get diagnosed and prescribed medication by phone, computer or mobile app. The highly-rated service is used by hundreds of thousands of patients for everything from cold and flu to chronic condition care. The unique combination of world-class physicians, same-day appointments and the fact that PlushCare accepts most major insurance makes it a best-in-class consumer telehealth platform. PlushCare is backed by premier venture capital firms, GGV Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners. To learn more about PlushCare, visit www.plushcare.com.
SOURCE PlushCare