We are often told what makes Matrix different is our compassionate care and conversational approach. It is what we strive to offer but it is also who our clinicians are – down-to-earth and passionate about helping people maintain their health and wellness.

And so part of what our clinicians appreciate when conducting Matrix’s Comprehensive Health Assessment (CHA), is it affords them the time in private home environments to give members the undivided attention they deserve to discuss their health and address any social determinants of health (SDOH) factors that may be impacting their quality of life.

 One of our nurse practitioners (NP) conducted a CHA for a health plan member who said she hadn’t been feeling well for about a year. She had been experiencing lower leg discomfort and pain, but nothing had been discovered or diagnosed during routine check-ups.

Based on her symptoms, in addition to conducting the overall CHA health and safety review, the NP decided to also administer Matrix’s at-home PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease) test. The test results, which come back immediately, revealed the member did in fact have a diagnosis of PAD. PAD is a leading cause of amputations and individuals with the condition experience a decrease in quality of life due to the severe leg pain it causes. However, by identifying the disease, treatment can start, and long-term complications can potentially be prevented.

The NP facilitated a follow-up discussion between the member and her PCP, and from there she was referred for vascular surgery. Soon after, she had bilateral lower extremity stents placed.

The health plan member shared: “That young man saved my life. I am feeling much better and am happy that I agreed to have a wellness visit.”

The Matrix nurse practitioner shared: “After completing well over five thousand CHA visits within the past ten years, this visit gave me such a warm affirmation that we are saving lives!”

“During a CHA, our clinicians review members’ health and safety and identify and close care gaps. In 2021, over 16,000 CHA visits required urgent escalation to the member’s PCP. We are grateful for our clinicians located across the country doing what they do with kindness and expertise. Wellness visits are invaluable, particularly for preventive care.” – Ryan Heyborne, MD, MBA, FACEP, Matrix Chief Medical Officer.

During our Comprehensive Health Assessment (CHA), we review members’ health and safety and help identify and close care gaps to ensure they continue to get the best care possible based on their needs.

However, another important goal of the CHA is to empower members to proactively manage their own health, and in doing so, maintain a consistent relationship with a primary care provider (PCP).

What we tell the members we serve is that our CHA does not replace the relationships they have with the trusted medical professionals in their life. It augments them by providing access to an extra health check in – in the comfort of their home.

Ensuring continuum of care through collaboration

The CHA is an annual in-depth, in-home visit made available to members by their health plans. It serves as a conduit between PCP appointments to help ensure members are maintaining their best health and any ongoing support they need is being addressed. For our clinicians, this can range from identifying a serious health condition that needs immediate attention to simply offering recommendations to community resources.

For many urgent unmet needs or elevated test results, we call the PCP, so they have the information to follow-up with the member accordingly. When the CHA visit is complete, we send a health status report to both the health plan provider and PCP. And, for members that don’t have a PCP, we make a care management referral and collaborate with their insurance provider to ensure one is established in their area.

Educating members on the value of health maintenance

Offering a more personal in-home health visit is another opportunity to educate members on the importance of taking care of their health and reminds and motivates them to stay connected with their PCPs. And we are seeing they do.

Based on a recent evaluation Matrix conducted, after receiving a CHA, 48 percent of members followed up with a PCP visit within 30 days, 68 percent within 60 days, 78 percent within 90 days, and 84 percent within 120 days. And, of the members who responded to our customer satisfaction survey to date, 96 percent replied “yes” when asked: “Was the visit of overall benefit to you?”.

Providing in-home health points members back to their PCPs

Members often say to us: I have great care, but I really appreciate your second set of eyes.

On behalf of the PCPs responsible for ensuring members stay in their best health and have access to the right care, our clinicians visit members in their homes, sit in their living rooms, and not only evaluate their health and safety but reinforce how much it matters.

It’s a collaborative relationship critical to every member’s health journey.

Learn more about Matrix’s Comprehensive Health Assessments.

When it comes down to it, a valuable member experience during our Comprehensive Health Assessment (CHA) is one where the member feels seen, heard, and understood. In other words, the member feels safe enough to share with the visiting clinician whatever is going on with their health and life circumstances that may be impacting their overall well-being.

According to our dedicated network of clinicians living in member communities across the country, it takes genuine empathy in every situation to ensure members have the meaningful healthcare experience they need and deserve.

Building trust to establish meaningful member engagement

The purpose of our proprietary CHA is to assess health and safety, identify and close gaps in care, and offer life-changing services that activate members to manage their own health.

But there’s more to it than just that.

Our clients tell us our unique difference is the compassionate care and conversational approach our clinicians use while conducting the clinical assessments. Read more on what our clinicians are saying by clicking here.

This approach establishes the trust that encourages members to feel comfortable enough to have us in their home and openly ask questions and talk about their health concerns, so that we can get them the best care possible and potentially uncover serious health conditions at the same time.

Convenience is key to uncovering member health insights

It takes insight and action to ensure a positive member experience. But you need to meet members where they are – in their homes and in their health journeys.

We can complement the work of primary care providers (PCPs), by spending more time in member homes and gaining a unique perspective – a CHA visit offers the chance for our clinicians to take anywhere from 45-60 minutes to get a far better picture of the overall health and safety of members than is likely in a doctor’s office setting alone. For members who don’t have an existing PCP, we connect them to their health plan provider who can assist in getting one assigned.

In addition to seeing what members’ real support systems look like, our clinicians thoroughly review current health, medical history, medication adherence, physical environment, social determinants of health (SDOHs), and other risk factors to provide important member health insights.

Redefining compassionate, comprehensive care to enhance health impact

The in-depth patient health information gathered during a CHA helps ensure our clients have clear insight into the challenges and needs their members are facing and that are affecting their ability to live healthier, more fulfilled lives.

For every member we meet, there is always an opportunity to do something that will make a difference. And providing genuine empathy with effective healthcare delivery truly improves health outcomes and positively impacts lives.

From a Patient in Arizona:

“I was having one of the most down days because I was bed-bound. You walked in, and I never knew when the assessment began and when it ended because you were so friendly and kind to me. It was as if a friend had entered my home. You made my whole world change because of the sunshine you brought into my world. I wish I could hug you and thank you a million times for all you have done for me! You are always welcome in my home. What a pleasure to get help from a company that is so wonderful, kind, and caring. I believe everyone should have a Matrix visit. Thank you for your excellent care.”

Learn more about our Comprehensive Health Assessments here.