DENVER, Jan. 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PeakMed, a leader in direct primary health care, and CirrusMD, a health-tech company which offers a text-first approach to telemedicine, today announced a partnership that brings communication technology to the PeakMed family.

CirrusMD’s HIPAA-compliant platform allows PeakMed patients to ask questions and get the treatment they need, including prescriptions as appropriate, via text, image sharing, video or phone, all without having to come into the PeakMed Life Center. Different from a typical clinic’s patient portal, where a patient may be able to email a doctor and then have to wait up to a day for a response, CirrusMD allows patients to simply text their provider through an app on their computer or mobile device, allowing for on-demand communications to determine next steps. 

The technology complements PeakMed’s unique services which cater to bring the basics back to the doctor-patient relationship. PeakMed offers a flat, affordable monthly fee to members for unlimited access to hour-long appointments for traditional care, like checkups or diagnosis, as well as preventative care. Together, the companies will disrupt the status quo and heighten patients’ expectations of the services their health care providers offer.

“Seventy to 80 percent of all doctor visits can be done over text, phone or video once a health care plan has been established,” said Dr. Mark Tomasulo, founder of PeakMed. “Access to secure texting from CirrusMD brings PeakMed to the next level in care and puts the exam room right in a patient’s pocket. We can provide care if the patient is at home in bed or hundreds of miles away on vacation, bringing added value and convenience.”

Many people who go to the emergency room or urgent care don’t need that level of service, which drives significant cost. PeakMed and CirrusMD have a shared goal to divert those patients from the ER and urgent care and instead connect them with a doctor who can treat them. CirrusMD’s solution has prevented unnecessary ER and urgent care visits for 40 percent of patients who use the platform.

“Patients are demanding instant access to care,” said Andrew Altorfer, CEO of CirrusMD. “By meeting patients where they are, with a familiar text messaging experience, CirrusMD and PeakMed will be able to treat patients virtually and guide them to the most appropriate point-of-care for their situation, saving both time and money.”

“Electronic communication is a great tool for the doctor-patient relationship,” Craig Kilpatrick, M.D., PeakMed physician said. “Having a patient text me when they're concerned about their health, or the health of their child, is not a disruption. I want to be able to help them. CirrusMD’s technology makes life easier for patients which, in turn, makes my job easier.”

About PeakMed: 

Founded in in 2014, PeakMed improves access to care by restoring the relationship between doctors and patients while decreasing the cost for individuals and employers. PeakMed members pay a flat monthly fee for unlimited doctor visits and 24-hour, seven-day-a-week access, along with many other benefits. Headquartered in Denver, PeakMed offers an innovative approach to primary care by creating a platform for doctors and patients to collaborate, coordinate and communicate on personalized care plans that shift reactive medicine to proactive health. PeakMed was named a 2017 Colorado Company to Watch and has multiple clinics in the Colorado Springs and Denver areas. For more information go to PeakMed.com.

About CirrusMD:

Founded in 2012, CirrusMD develops virtual care solutions for value-based health care organizations. Our technology allows patients to access convenient, timely medical care with local physicians in the same way that doctors address concerns for their friends and family – through text and video chat. The company currently provides telemedicine services to over 1.5 million covered lives, primarily in Colorado, Texas and the Mid-Atlantic region. Learn more about CirrusMD on our website: www.cirrusmd.com.

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