Amwell, Leidos win $180m US military digital health contract
Faced with escalating costs, the US Defense Health Agency (DHA) is seeking a digital solution to the problem of managing chronic health conditions – and has turned to telehealth specialist Amwell and defense contractor Leidos to provide it.
The 22-month contract, worth up to $180 million, will see the Amwell Converge digital health platform delivered to Military Health System (MHS) members by the Leidos Partnership for Defense Health (LPDH), a partnership that provides the GENESIS electronic health record (EHR) system to the military.
The task order is part of a drive by the MHS, which provides healthcare to millions of active and former service members and their families, to transition to a ‘digital first’ model of healthcare.
Military personnel and their families often lack physical access to medical facilities, either because of where they are stationed or because they are deployed on active duty, and digital channels provide a way to overcome that problem.
Amwell Converge provides digital, virtual, and automated services and will replace the MHS’ Video Connect system, a web-based telehealth platform that was developed in partnership with the LPDH and launched during the pandemic. It will initially be deployed at five sites, with the intention to be rolled out across the MHS enterprise.
Like other health systems in the US, the MHS is projecting increased exposure to costly chronic conditions such as diabetes, coupled with a shortage of clinicians and caregivers, and sees digital technologies as a way to respond to the challenge.
In the case of the military, of course, those issues have another dimension, potentially affecting the readiness of personnel to respond to threats, and the MHS has said it is seeking to develop a digital ecosystem – built on an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software platform – that can layer in technologies like telehealth and virtual care, augmented and virtual reality, and generative artificial intelligence.
The adoption of Amwell Converge is just one part of that, according to Jason McCarthy, senior vice president of military and veterans health solutions at Leidos.
“Digital first addresses DHA’s goal of better outcomes, new processes, innovation, and increased standardisation based on evidence,” he said. “As part of our overall MHS GENESIS effort to enhance patient experience, we, along with Amwell, are looking forward to delivering this solution for DHA’s providers and patients.”
The companies say the new approach will help reduce burdens on care teams, improve the mental health and wellness of MHS members, help reduce costs, and improve efficiencies in healthcare delivery.
