Luna partners with post-acute care delivery provider PAM Health

The new service, called PAM Health Therapy at Home powered by Luna, will be available starting May 1

As more care moves into the home, thanks to the proliferation of telemedicine and remote patient monitoring, companies like Luna, a provider of in-home physical services, have found themselves increasingly popular with health systems who want to expand these offerings to their patients.

Luna has been entering into a series of partnerships over the last few years, including with AARP, Providence, Emory Healthcare, Intermountain Healthcare, Scripps Health, and MedStar Health. On Tuesday it announced its latest partnership with PAM Health, a provider of post-acute care delivery with hospitals, outpatient sites, and clinics across 22 states, reaching approximately 30,000 patients monthly and 300,000 annually.

With this collaboration with Luna, patients referred to in-home physical therapy will speak with a concierge team member who will match them with a licensed physical therapist based on specialty, geography, and schedule. Patients can choose their preferred 45-minute in-home appointment time.  To ensure consistency, patients and therapists remain matched for the entire treatment plan.

The new service, called PAM Health Therapy at Home powered by Luna, will be available starting May 1. 

"PAM Health is committed to providing high-quality patient care and outstanding customer service, coupled with the loyalty and dedication of a highly trained staff, to be the most trusted and impactful source for healthcare services in every community it serves,"  Palak Shah, co-founder and head of clinical operations at Luna, told VatorNews. 

"We think this is a perfect fit with our focus on exceptional clinical care and outcomes for patients, by delivered care into the home which encourages adoption, adherence, and faster return to function. Its also perfect as we have services in 28 states and the intersection of care by working together can have a very big impact on patient lives."

Luna's platform matches eligible patients to therapists based on factors such as specialty, geography, and schedules. Luna's network of local physical therapists then provides care from the comfort of a patient's home. The same therapist treats the patient for the entirety of the treatment plan; between visits, patients can use Luna to communicate with their physical therapists, set appointment times, and perform therapist prescribed and monitored exercises.

In the last six months, the company was designated a CMS/Medicare "Exceptional Provider" for the second consecutive year, while Fast Company also recently ranked it as the 13th most innovative healthcare company, with Luna also securing the top spot among physical therapy companies on the list. Additionally, Forbes also named Luna among America’s Best Startup Employers in 2024.

The Enola, Pennsylvania-headquartered PAM Health, meanwhile, offers specialized healthcare services across a network of over 100 long-term acute care hospitals and physical medicine and rehabilitation hospitals, along with wound clinics, outpatient physical therapy sites, and behavioral health hospitals. Its approach includes Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals, Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, Ambulatory Services, and Community-based Care options

"This diverse range of services emphasizes our commitment to care beyond episodic treatment, managing the entire disease process for each individual,"Andro Herrera-Mendoza, PAM SVP, Chief Growth Officer of Ambulatory and Rehabilitation Services, told VatorNews.

"Our model isn't just about providing services; it's about offering tailored care solutions that resonate with personal preferences."

The partnership with Luna will extend PAM Health services by offering patients additional choices to where they wish to receive their care. That, in turn, will help PAM Health stand out in the industry.

"Luna has created a novel platform that allows PAM Health to extend our service capacity and capabilities to from acute inpatient care settings to ambulatory and community-based care settings. We believe in bringing healthcare into the patient's home, ensuring comfort and familiarity while meeting medical needs. This approach is particularly significant in areas we operate, given we are attuned to the unique needs of our diverse communities," said Herrera-Mendoza.

"This commitment positions us at the forefront of post-acute care, making us a pivotal player in the healthcare sector.  Likewise, Luna has a similar mindset in their delivery of their services and we are complemented by a shared value of providing convenient, personalized care and using technological advances to support productivity and efficiency in our delivery."

Including PAM Health, Luna has now partnered with 25 hospitals, allowing over 190 million Americans now have access to Luna’s in-home outpatient physical therapy service. The company also expect to hit 1 million visits delivered in the next few months. 

For PAM Health, the ROI from the partnership with Luna will be realized and measured through enhanced customer satisfaction/experience and consumer engagement by creating additional care access points that extend beyond the traditional four walls. 

"We are committed to ensuring that the high-quality care traditionally associated with our facilities is seamlessly extended to community-based care (home) settings. This initiative is vital in maintaining continuity of care and minimizing the risk of errors that can arise from disjointed care processes," Herrera-Mendoza explained.

"This collaboration reflects our commitment to adapting and improving our facilities in ways that directly benefit our patients, ensuring they receive the right care, at the right time, in the most suitable setting."

(Image source: pamhealth.com)