Near the end of 2023, New York officials announced a sweeping agenda to increase the life expectancy of New Yorkers, as the average life expectancy in the city had fallen by two years, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of course, COVID-19 is still here, and the flu and RSV have been floating around this winter. The city reported that hospitals here are not overwhelmed—and hopefully, it stays that way—but if we've learned anything in the past few years, it's better to be proactive in protecting the health of others and ourselves.
One company that's been in the news lately is DocGo, a leading provider of technology-enabled mobile healthcare services. DocGo is "leading the proactive healthcare revolution," helping reshape healthcare delivery by bringing care to patients where they are when they need it. They send mobile health clinicians to patients' homes and pair their on-site clinicians with remote Advanced Practice Providers to supervise treatment. This mix of on-site and virtual care is especially beneficial to homebound patients, as it increases healthcare access, prevents unnecessary travel, and minimizes exposure.
DocGo's commitment to accessibility extends beyond the home to diverse care settings—the company sends healthcare professionals to the workplace, homeless shelters, senior living facilities, and other non-traditional settings. Additionally, they operate mobile medical clinics staffed by highly skilled medical professionals offering urgent care, routine check-ups, diagnostic tests, and more.
Tech is also integral, as DocGo combines its proprietary software with an innovative care delivery model and clinical workflows to provide healthcare services. Through their proprietary DocGo On-Demand app, patients and caregivers can schedule and manage appointments, and through DocGo's proprietary vehicle deployment optimization platform, patients and caregivers can also track mobile units from dispatch to their door.
All this to say, DocGo's flexible platform and ability to provide care to patients in diverse settings are key reasons NYC tapped DocGo to aid in the ongoing influx of migrants.
New York officials continue to speak at length about the unprecedented level of migrants coming into the city due to its sanctuary status. Over 68,000 migrants are currently reported to be in the city's care.
DocGo's ability to provide care in non-traditional settings and proven track record of operationalizing large-scale population health programs were integral to New York City's decision to contract DocGo to provide healthcare, shelter, food, security, and other services for asylum seekers in the city.
In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, DocGo Chief Executive Lee Bienstock spoke about the company's performance in light of the many misconceptions bandied about in the media. They are providing health services, such as vaccinations and mental-health screenings, to asylum seekers under their care.
"The focus for us has to be on the clinical offering we provide," Bienstock said. "It's the same vaccination. It's the same logistics. It's the same vaccine-management backbone that we built. We just deploy it in lots of different settings."
That ability to provide advanced clinical care in different settings, virtually, in-person, and on-demand, is a significant asset in assisting the City in its response to the migrant crisis.
Accusations against DocGo's handling of their contract prompted officials from the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) to conduct on-site visits to facilities the company operates on behalf of NYC's Department of Housing Preservation and Development to house asylum seekers.
In the October 10th independent report, OTDA officials found that the facilities were generally clean and in good condition. Notably, residents expressed a sense of safety, and the report contradicted many complaints raised about DocGo's performance in fulfilling its contractual obligations.
DocGo continues to work to deliver high-quality, highly accessible care across a wide range of mobile health, virtual care management, and medical transportation projects for a diverse group of customers, including municipalities, hospitals and health systems, insurers, physician practices, businesses, and employers.
Bienstock vigorously affirmed the company's performance, asserting that it is diligently providing the services outlined in the migrant contract. He emphasized that the vast majority of asylum seekers under DocGo's care feel well-supported. Furthermore, payments under the contract have commenced, with expectations for an acceleration in the coming year, according to Bienstock.
These revelations challenge the validity of accusations against DocGo put forth by various biased media outlets. The positive on-site evaluation by government officials, coupled with the widespread satisfaction expressed by asylum seekers, paints a contrasting picture to the criticisms levied against the company.
Bienstock said DocGo is focused on treating patients before they need to go to the hospital. Advanced Practice Providers can remotely supervise on-site clinicians during patient treatment, combining telehealth with in-person care. The company counts large hospital systems, insurance companies, and municipalities among its customers.
"Today it's asylum seekers and tomorrow it's asylum seekers. But it's also patients of insurance plans. Its patients of cardiology practices. It's event goers at Citi Field. It's people being discharged from the hospital," Bienstock said. "It's all related."
One must consider positive feedback from the individuals and families directly impacted by the company's inclusive, accessible initiatives. While accusations have been made, the on-site inspection by government officials and the overall satisfaction expressed by asylum seekers in this program challenge the validity of negative claims against DocGo.
As the narrative unfolds, it becomes evident that DocGo has faced unjust criticism, and a more balanced perspective is required to understand the company's actual impact.
There are no perfect answers for how to address this crisis, but at a minimum, humane treatment of migrants is imperative—they are simply seeking a better life, and the City of New York is doing all it can to provide the highest quality care for migrants who are arriving here.
Contracting with innovative healthcare companies like DocGo is a logical and strategic response for NYC to help meet the needs of caring for this vulnerable population.
To sum up, DocGo's mobile healthcare, virtual care management, and medical transportation services are making a tangible social impact, helping bridge the gap in healthcare disparities and driving better patient outcomes.
They've had 7,000,000 cumulative patient encounters, 30-50% of their patients have Medicaid insurance or are uninsured, and they've saved an estimated $300,000,000 from diverted emergency department visits and unnecessary hospitalizations. DocGo's mission to bring high-quality, highly accessible healthcare to all, regardless of location or socioeconomic background, is vital for today and the future.
