Wheel and b.well Partner to Build Turnkey AI-First Virtual Care Infrastructure

Health tech companies Wheel and b.well Connected Health have announced a strategic partnership to create turnkey infrastructure for next-generation, AI-first virtual care. This collaboration aims to provide a faster and more complete solution for AI-native companies, retailers, life sciences firms, payers, health systems, and consumer health brands looking to innovate in the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

AI-first healthcare experiences are becoming increasingly important as consumer health data becomes more pervasive. Information from apps, wearables, medical records, and other sources is now a significant part of daily life. Retailers and pharmacies are also transforming into care access points, while life sciences companies are adopting direct-to-consumer strategies. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is further driving this shift by pushing initiatives to improve patients' access to their health data.

By combining their capabilities, Wheel and b.well aim to close the gap between data collection and actionable clinical care. B.well’s platform offers consumer-authorized health record access, consent management, identity verification, patient matching, and open standards-based APIs. Over the past eight years, Wheel has developed an AI-first platform for scalable virtual care programs, providing essential components like virtual care delivery, clinician network operations, prescribing, patient support, and pharmacy workflows.

Bridging Data to Care

Kristen Valdes, founder and CEO of b.well Connected Health, emphasized the importance of integrating data with actionable healthcare. "Today, people are loading their health information into platform LLMs and services like Google Health and Samsung Health," she said. "However, they need a more straightforward pathway to care when insights indicate a necessary action-whether it's an evidence-based medicine gap, a medication lapse, or a required titration."

The partnership’s combined infrastructure is designed to support several key functionalities:

• Consumer-Authorized Health Record Access: Secure and seamless access to health data with patient consent.
• Smarter Intake and Clinical Context: Enhanced data collection and context for more accurate intake processes.
• AI-Enabled Guidance and Care Routing: Intelligent systems to guide patients to the most appropriate care pathways.
• Virtual Care Delivery: Comprehensive virtual care solutions, including telemedicine consultations and remote monitoring.
• Prescribing and Pharmacy Coordination: Streamlined processes for medication prescriptions and pharmacy integration.
• Follow-Up and Outcome Measurement: Robust systems for post-care follow-up and outcome tracking.

This integrated approach ensures that data is not just collected but also used to drive meaningful clinical decisions and improve patient outcomes. For instance, if a wearable device detects an irregular heartbeat, the system can automatically route the patient to a cardiologist and ensure they receive timely care.

Key Takeaways

• Comprehensive AI-First Solution: The partnership between Wheel and b.well offers a complete infrastructure for AI-native virtual care.
• Enhanced Data Utilization: The combined platform ensures that consumer health data is effectively used to drive clinical decisions.
• Seamless Integration: Both companies bring their strengths-b.well’s data access and management, and Wheel’s virtual care delivery-to create a seamless user experience.
• Patient-Centric Care: The infrastructure supports a more patient-centric approach by providing timely and relevant healthcare services.

By addressing the growing demand for AI-driven healthcare solutions, this partnership is poised to transform how patients engage with their health data and access medical care. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, the integration of advanced technology and data management will play a crucial role in improving patient outcomes and overall healthcare efficiency.