Five Star Partners With DispatchHealth to Bring Acute Care to Residents

Five Star Senior Living (NYSE: FVE) is collaborating with DispatchHealth in an effort to provide acute care for residents living in Five Star communities.

Under the partnership, DispatchHealth workers will provide same-day aid to residents living in independent living, assisted living and memory care. Services include treatment for infections; asthma attacks; wounds, bed sores and pressure ulcers; and minor fractures and sprains.

Five Star residents, executive directors or caregivers can request DispatchHealth’s services online or over the phone.

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The new partnership comes after a pilot program during the first half of 2021 between the in-home medical services provider and the Newton, Massachusetts-based senior living operator. Leaders with Five Star said the program helped reduce emergency room visits for residents. And because the program’s services are covered by most insurance plans, more than 85% of Five Star residents had no out-of-pocket expenses using DispatchHealth, the operator noted.

DispatchHealth is already working in 25 Five Star communities, and the operator plans to expand the program to more than 40 communities by the end of the year, with more expected growth on the way in 2022.

“As DispatchHealth’s U.S. footprint grows, we look forward to expanding our partnership and making this unparalleled medical service available to as many of our valued residents as possible,” Five Star President and CEO Katie Potter said in a press release. “This partnership is another example of our efforts to evolve and differentiate the resident experience in Five Star communities.”

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Five Star’s partnership with DispatchHealth is part of a larger trend in the senior living industry of operators finding ways to provide acute or primary care in the communities where residents live.

DispatchHealth has also worked with another senior living provider in the past, Christian Living Communities. The partnership helped CLC bring down resident turnover.

Partnerships with other companies in and adjacent to the senior living industry are expected to be a larger part of Five Star’s strategy going forward. Earlier this month, the operator partnered with Compass Group, and plans to transition its culinary program to the senior living dining services company.

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