Partners Connected Health and Massachusetts Medical International have teamed-up to provide remote diagnosis and expert second opinions via the Partners Online Second Opinion service (POSO), for physicians and patients in China. Managed by Partners Connected Health, POSO provides access to world-class hospitals affiliated with Partners HealthCare, offering patients and their physicians, all over the world, access to expert medical specialists. Massachusetts Medical International is an international medical service institution providing remote diagnosis, medical treatment and professional training for hospital management and physicians from China.
“There is increasing demand for our remote consultation and second opinion services from around the world,” Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, VP of Connected Health at Partners HealthCare, said in a statement. “We are pleased to add Massachusetts Medical International as a partner, offering healthcare providers and patients in China virtual access to specialty care at Partners-affiliated hospitals.”
POSO has provided thousands of patients and physicians remote access to the many specialists in the Partners HealthCare network, a Harvard Medical School-affiliated healthcare delivery system, including Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.
The service was established 20 years ago and has been used by over 13,000 patients globally. The specialists who provide consultations for POSO are often world-renowned experts in their field, with experience overseeing very complex and rare cases. A recent review of POSO consultations found that in 90% of the medical cases reviewed, Partners HealthCare specialists recommended a complete change in the treatment plan, suggesting profound implications for clinical care. In addition, in 5% of cases, the consulting specialist recommended a new diagnosis.
“Collaborating with Partners Connected Health will help strengthen the bridge Mass Medical International is building between the U.S. and China. This partnership will provide patients from China the satisfaction and confidence they desire from healthcare,” George Wu, MD, CEO of Mass Medical International, said in a statement. “Our mission is to improve global access to healthcare excellence.”