A select group of Northwell’s Medicaid patients will soon have access to a new resource providing referrals for health resources beyond the hospital.
It will come in the form of a digital software called NowPow, which Northwell announced a new partnership with last Thursday.
NowPow will target urgent but nonmedical issues that arise depending upon an individual’s economic position or social environment. For example, mold in one’s home can worsen asthma, an issue that could be avoided if the mold was eliminated.
The software will offer patients referrals to approved community organizations that they can reach out to for help. Referrals will be based on patient health records, according to Northwell.
The first patients with access to NowPow will be 1,200 members of Northwell’s “Health Home,” which supports people with behavioral health challenges.
“We are proud to partner with Northwell on this important step in their journey toward treating the whole person, not just the disease,” NowPow founder and chief innovation officer Dr. Stacy Lindau said in a news release. “Together we will power the communities Northwell serves with the knowledge everyone needs to stay well, manage their illness, and care for others.”
The name NowPow comes from the phrase “knowledge is power,” according to the Chicago-based company.
Northwell partnered with another technology company in February to help patients access resources when they are not critically ill. The software, an artificial intelligence machine created by Jvion, is intended to support patients when they are discharged from the hospital to help them avoid readmission.
Northwell has an office of community investment, which works to address social determinants of health that put individuals at risk because of socioeconomic barriers. It targets issues such as the opioid epidemic and food insecurity.
“Total health also requires healthy food, a safe place to live and the ability to get to the care you need,” Nancy Copperman, vice president of community health, said in the news release. “By talking to our patients about these issues and integrating NowPow into the care we provide, we can connect people to the tools and resources they need to create truly healthy lives.”
Community organizations that partner with Northwell will have access to NowPow and the ability to reach out to patients, and Northwell providers will be able to track and help coordinate referrals.
NowPow will be able to inform Northwell if high-risk patients use the recommended resources, according to Northwell.
