Viasat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT), a global communications company, and 19Labs, a leader in remote telemedicine platforms, today announced a collaboration to deliver a real-time, enhanced telemedicine and remote patient monitoring (RPM) solution aimed at providing affordable, comprehensive clinic experiences, where patients, clinicians and healthcare providers can securely connect and share healthcare information—even in the hardest-to-reach communities.
Beyond just videocalls, enhanced telemedicine replicates the clinical experience, integrating smart diagnostic devices to deliver vital real-time data during the consult, enabling medical staff to make better, more accurate assessments. The enhanced telemedicine solution leverages Viasat’s reliable, high-speed satellite-based broadband service combined with 19Lab’s cloud-based, HIPPA-compliant telehealth healthcare platform, to aid in secure doctor-patient communications where bandwidth-intensive diagnostic and health information can be safely and securely transmitted over Viasat’s network.
19Labs point-of-care e-clinics are being installed throughout Latin America in unserved and underserved communities. In the U.S., 19Labs recently deployed eClinic kits to schools in Utah and with physician practices in Missouri to extend healthcare access funded by the original 2020 FCC CARES Act grant. Currently, 19labs is assisting healthcare and education groups prepare applications under the recently expanded 2021 FCC telemedicine grant program.
“Over the past year as the COVID-19 outbreak took over the world, we saw families in unserved and underserved communities globally struggling to receive a telehealth diagnosis or treatment due to a lack of connectivity,” said Evan Dixon, vice president of global fixed broadband services at Viasat. “We continue to seek out cooperative opportunities to provide value where we can be part of a global healthcare solution. Through this initiative with 19Labs, we can deliver telemedicine access, set-up e-clinics and provide enhanced mobile patient care, which can help provide relief to those living in hard-to-connect locations.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed holes in the healthcare delivery system—both in the U.S. and globally,” said Ram Fish, CEO of 19Labs. “With personal restrictions and social distancing prevalent, governments and healthcare organizations are now embracing the benefits of providing healthcare remotely into all communities while better utilizing their limited healthcare resources. By collaborating with Viasat, we believe their satellite-based internet service creates an opportunity to bring affordable, reliable telehealth services to people that have traditionally been without healthcare access. Our advanced telemedicine and RPM solutions—from comprehensive remote examinations to advanced diagnostics—deliver a seamless experience both for providers and patients. With the 19Labs GALE platform, we empower healthcare providers to deliver smarter, cost-effective, patient-centric care wherever the patient is: at home, in a community center or at school.”
