Dementia November 21, 2023

Bridging the Gaps in Dementia Care for Providers, Patients and Caregivers

Harmonic Health leverages technology and expertise to create a new evidence-based dementia care model.

Neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s disease take a heavy emotional and psychological toll on patients and their unpaid caregivers. Yet at a time when they need help the most, patients and caregivers often find limited and fragmented treatment options, leaving them feeling unsupported and frustrated.

The problem will only get worse over time if unaddressed. That’s because the prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions continues to grow, with Alzheimer’s affecting more than 6.7 million Americans and costing $655 billion annually. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services has made dementia care management a priority, making it ever more important to unify the disconnected world of Alzheimer’s care.

Primary care physicians feel the strain

As they seek expert support and guidance, more than 75% of patients with neurodegenerative diseases currently turn to their primary care physicians (PCPs). But half of PCPs say they feel unprepared to meet their patients’ needs. That’s because they often lack the resources they need to provide comprehensive care.

There is a pressing need for a comprehensive solution that offers resources designed specifically to address the unique challenges of neurodegenerative diseases to elevate the care journey and facilitate seamless collaboration between PCPs, neurologists and health systems.

Say hello to Harmonic

Harmonic Health, built at Redesign Health, is a comprehensive dementia care delivery solution. It’s designed to bring providers together so they can treat each patient and caregiver with the candor, dignity and empathy they deserve.

Using an evidence-based care model, Harmonic provides a dedicated dementia care navigator who combines advanced technology and an expert care team to empower PCPs and neurologists in providing collaborative, longitudinal care. Simultaneously, Harmonic addresses the medical, behavioral and social aspects of dementia care with a robust set of resources and tools that includes:

A specialized, multidisciplinary care team. Harmonic’s providers assess disease severity, coordinate treatments, and provide educational and emotional support for patients and caregivers using a top-of-license model. They also create comprehensive care plans with specialist referrals when needed.
AI-powered assistance and risk stratification. Harmonic combines generative AI, advanced algorithms and data analytics. This integration allows the platform to assess patient risk levels, identify undiagnosed or underdiagnosed disease severity and create comprehensive care plans aligned with physician protocols. The technology also empowers Harmonic’s care teams to enhance human touchpoints and prioritize patient and caregiver communication, emotional support and care guidance.
A provider-friendly workflow integration. The Harmonic platform includes data insights, care coordination and EHR integration to help PCPs and neurologists efficiently manage their patients. Accordingly, clinicians can proactively identify and refer patients, access care plans and monitor patient progress.

Early results show high program demand

Harmonic launched its initial services with Stoney Batter Family Medicine, a trusted full-service practice that serves more than 24,000 patients in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. The pilot will give physicians and patients dedicated dementia care expertise and resources, including caregiver support and coaching, dementia screening and referrals to community services.

The practice has already achieved an 80% patient enrollment rate for Harmonic.

“Harmonic Health serves to fill a serious unmet need for my patients with neurodegenerative disease and their families,” says Sarah Mullins, MD, Physician and Owner with Stoney Batter. “It complements my practice and alleviates stressors for the patient and their family, as well as for me and my team.”

As Harmonic expands, it expects to partner with additional practices and healthcare systems.

One expert team working in harmony

Harmonic is led by a team of highly accomplished executives from across the healthcare ecosystem.

Jim Gera, CEO and Co-Founder, has dedicated his career to diverse healthcare sectors, including physician organizations and managed care. He previously served as the CEO of Fusion5, where he launched a tech-enabled, value-based care delivery platform in 41 states with 6,500 physicians.
Marcy Bergeron-Noa, DNP, Chief Clinical Officer, is a visionary, transformational leader who has built and deployed complex care delivery systems in all 50 states. She formerly served as Chief Nursing Officer at AmazonCare and Medically Home.
Chris Young, Chief Product Officer, is a product and strategy leader with 15 years of experience across B2B SaaS and digital health. As the former Chief Strategy and Product Officer at Force Therapeutics, he worked closely with large health systems such as Mass General Brigham, Geisinger and Scripps Health.
Scott Saran, MD, Chief Medical Officer, is a highly accomplished and strategically focused physician executive with depth across payer, provider and policy domains. He currently serves as MedPac commissioner and formerly served as CMO for BCBS Illinois, Advocate Health System and MoveCare.

Empowering providers and patients with advanced dementia solutions

People with Alzheimer’s and related conditions deserve to live with dignity. By marrying advanced technology with expert oversight, Harmonic creates an adaptive, intuitive dementia care journey, ensuring continuous, optimal support for physicians, patients and caregivers alike.

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