NEW YORK, NY and SECAUCUS, NJ -- December 8, 2020 -- Ro, the healthcare technology company, and Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the nation’s leader in diagnostic information services, today announced a strategic partnership to add diagnostic capabilities and lab testing to Ro's vertically integrated primary care platform. The partnership will support Ro’s expansion in the treatment and management of chronic and complex medical conditions facilitated on its platform.
Quest Diagnostics is the first diagnostic services provider to collaborate with Ro to help patients manage chronic conditions through virtual and in-home care. As the leading provider of diagnostic information services, Quest provides thousands of laboratory screening and diagnostic test services and operates 2,200 patient service centers where individuals can provide lab samples across the United States.
This partnership complements Ro’s recent acquisition of Workpath, a software platform that enables on-demand, in-home care. The acquisition allows Ro to seamlessly integrate virtual and in-person care and send healthcare professionals to a patient’s home for blood draws, vaccinations and more. All diagnostic tests for Ro patients will be processed by Quest Diagnostics, and patients will be able to have blood draws performed in their home through Ro’s integration with Workpath or at a Quest Diagnostics facility.
Initial Quest Diagnostics services offered through Ro will focus on hormone testing, including total testosterone and PSA. The addition of diagnostic testing services is expected to dramatically expand the range of services Ro can provide, for example treatment for hypothyroidism, STIs, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.
“Seventy percent of medical decisions are based on lab results, and many patients need ongoing diagnostic data and provider guidance to manage their conditions,” said Melynda Barnes, MD, SVP of Medical Affairs and Research of Ro. “This partnership permits physicians and patients on Ro’s platform to have access to these critical diagnostic services, allowing for the treatment of increasingly complex conditions through Ro, and encourages ongoing patient-provider engagement.”
“At Quest Diagnostics, we recognize that healthcare is becoming more and more consumer-driven,” said Cathy Doherty, senior vice president and group executive, clinical franchise solutions and marketing, Quest Diagnostics. "Ro has created a virtual care model that does what any good healthcare provider does but few health technology companies do well: foster intimacy and trust with each patient. Through our industry-first relationship, Quest will add quality diagnostic insights to the proven Ro model, so more people can access care for a broader array of medical conditions when and where they need it most.”
Ro patients will be able to access and discuss their lab results and treatment plan with their provider at any time. With this partnership, Ro seamlessly connects a patient’s doctor, pharmacy, and diagnostics, facilitating end-to-end care from diagnosis to the delivery of medication to ongoing care.
About Ro
Ro is the healthcare technology company building a patient-centric healthcare system. Ro’s vertically integrated primary care platform powers a personalized, end-to-end healthcare experience from diagnosis, to delivery of medication, to ongoing care. With a nationwide provider network, in-home care API, and proprietary pharmacy distribution centers, Ro seamlessly connects telehealth, diagnostics, and pharmacy services to provide high-quality, affordable healthcare without the need for insurance. Since 2017, Ro has facilitated more than five million digital healthcare visits in nearly every county in the United States, including 98% of primary care deserts. Visit Ro.co for more information.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our 47,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
Quest’s Commitment to Consumer Empowered Health
Quest Diagnostics has long been at the forefront of the movement for consumer empowerment in healthcare. The company was among the first diagnostic information services providers to offer free access to test results online and other channels. Its mobile app and patient portal, called MyQuest, provides millions of people a way to securely access and track their test results and other health data. The company's QuestDirect service provides dozens of tests for conditions ranging from heart health and sexually transmitted diseases. For added convenience, the company now offers at-home self-collection devices for tests including COVID-19 active infection, diabetes, and hormones. Through its collaborations with Safeway and Walmart, Quest Diagnostics operates approximately 200 patient service centers in retail store locations, for the utmost in convenient access. Quest Diagnostics also provides next generation sequencing and genotyping services for Ancestry.