Remote Health
Industry: Health care
Founded: 2019
Headquarters: 16 Oak Branch Drive, Suite D, Greensboro 27407
Phone: 336-589-1223
Top executives: Michelle Schmerge, CEO and co-founder, and Heather Smith, chief operating officer and co-founder
Employees: 40+, including full-time, part-time and contracted
Started by a nurse practitioner and physical therapist, Remote Health offers high-touch care to older and frail patients in the comfort of their own homes. In this alternative care model, the startup keeps older patients from unnecessary exposure to illness in hospitals and nursing home settings.
Founded in late 2019 by Michelle Schmerge, a nurse practitioner, and Heather Smith, a physical therapist,the startup had to quickly get going when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. The company did not disclose revenues, but to date Remote Health has served more than 1,000 patients across Guilford, Forsyth, Rockingham, Randolph and Alamance counties. Schmerge hopes to expand to other major cities in the state within the next year.
Remote Health offers home-based primary and acute care, as well as mobile-based urgent care, with 80% of the care being hands-on in the home, according to Schmerge.
The company partners with primary care providers and specialists. Typically, it manages the top 5% of vulnerable patients, which are often difficult to treat because they do not regularly seek care, often are treated in emergency rooms and account for 50% of health care spend. Remote Health identifies these patients using its proprietary data-driven roster as well as physician referrals and will proactively reach out to them.
Remote Health has a team of almost 40 full-time employees, along with several contracted and part-time employees. With a female-lead executive team, Remote Health has built a workforce of which all but three employees are women.
The startup has bootstrapped its way to significant growth in two years, choosing to grow organically through its services. Currently, Remote Health works with one undisclosed health insurance plan and is in conversation with others.
