Amwell and LG Electronics announced this week that they are partnering to develop device-based tools that make it easier for patients to access at-home or in-hospital care.  

The collaboration, said the vendors, will first focus on in-hospital services in the United States, building off LG's existing foothold in providing smart TVs for patient rooms.  

"As in-person, virtual and automated modalities converge to create significantly improved healthcare experiences, unlocking the last mile for patients and providers to easily connect to these services is more important than ever," Amwell Chairman and CEO Ido Schoenberg said in a statement.  

"Together, we are determined to offer providers and patients streamlined interactions from wherever they are, allowing providers to deliver advanced, digitally-enabled care," said Schoenberg.  

WHY IT MATTERS  

According to the companies, the partnership will work to develop new digital healthcare services and tools.  

Using LG devices and peripheral technologies, LG will build a platform to host services from Amwell's own virtual-care platform Converge, along with Converge-integrated and other third-party services.  

"Building on the expansive capabilities of Amwell's digital healthcare platform, we're looking forward to transforming the way people envision their healthcare, making care more accessible, simpler to navigate and more affordable – benefiting patients and providers alike," said Dr. Sokwoo Rhee, senior vice president and head of LG North American Innovation Center, LG NOVA at LG Electronics.  

THE LARGER TREND  

The push toward at-home care amid the COVID-19 pandemic has opened the door for innovators to develop devices that promote more seamless delivery of telemedicine.  

In April 2021, for example, the Mayo Clinic announced the launch of a new platform aimed at delivering advanced, AI-powered clinical decision support through remote monitoring. 

The health system has also poured millions of dollars into hospital-at-home care through the Medically Home Group, which has also spun up a platform to allow providers to address a range of acute clinical conditions safely in a patient's home.  

ON THE RECORD  

"We're leveraging our technology strengths and experience to bring new solutions to the healthcare market and enable people to have greater access to services through the devices they use every day," LG's Rhee said in a statement.  

Kat Jercich is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Twitter: @kjercich
Email: kjercich@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.