Expansion of Firefly Health’s team of experts addresses one of the most common chronic ailments in the U.S., saving patients time and money.‍

‍Watertown, MA – January 19, 2021 – FireflyHealth – a virtual-first, full-service primary care and behavioral healthcare provider – today announced a new agreement with Harvard Medical School affiliated Joslin Diabetes Center – the largest institution in the world devoted exclusively to diabetes research, care, and education. The agreement will expand Firefly Health’s integrated care offerings to better address one of the most common chronic health conditions in the U.S. today: diabetes. Under the new agreement, Firefly Health will consult with Joslin Diabetes Center as part of its network of clinical specialists, offering best-in-class diabetes care through a convenient, seamless and cost-saving experience to Firefly Health’s patients.

“For too long, patients with complex diabetes have had to coordinate their own treatment plan between primary care physicians and specialists, costing them twice as much time and money,” said Andy Ellner, Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer at Firefly Health.

Working with Joslin Diabetes Center enables Firefly’s physician-led team of experts to manage that relationship for our patients with diabetes, seamlessly integrating all aspects of their care in one convenient place. 

“A crucial part of our mission at Joslin Diabetes Center, in addition to delivering the best possible care to our patients, is to bring our expertise to other providers on behalf of their patients with diabetes,” said Sanjeev Mehta, MD, MPH, Interim Chief Medical Officer, Joslin Diabetes Center.

Collaborating with Firefly will help us bring our world-class specialty care to their patients as an extension of their dedicated care teams.

Firefly Health assigns every patient a dedicated care team that includes a doctor, nurse practitioner, behavioral health specialist, and a health guide. In addition, Firefly Health’s expansive partnership network offers access to urgent care centers, as well as specialists and diagnostic sites. Firefly Health’s technology infrastructure provides convenient communication, smart task management, advanced automation, and intelligence. In 90% of cases, Firefly Health is able to respond to patient needs in five minutes or less.

Diabetes is currently the number one chronic condition affecting Firefly Health patients, reflecting trends in the general population. The CDC estimates that approximately 26.9 million people of all ages – roughly 8.2 percent of the U.S. population – have been diagnosed with diabetes. That number is especially significant in light of the ongoing global pandemic. The American Diabetes Association warns that individuals with type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of developing severe illness or experiencing complications from COVID-19. Furthermore, in the last five years, the CDC found that excess medical costs per person associated with diabetes increased from $8,417 to $9,601. Firefly aims to reduce those costs and improve population health overall.

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‍About Firefly Health

Firefly Health offers empathy-driven virtual primary care, administered by a world-class clinical team and network of trusted clinical partners, powered by intuitive technology and (finally) built around people. By breaking down the barriers between primary care, behavioral health, and specialty care, we create an experience that is unrivaled in healthcare (or any other industry). Our mission is to deliver half-priced healthcare that’s twice as good, clinically and emotionally. Simply put, it’s the care you deserve. For more information, visit www.firefly.health.

About Joslin Diabetes Center

Joslin Diabetes Center is world-renowned for its deep expertise in diabetes treatment and research. Joslin is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives. We develop and disseminate innovative patient therapies and scientific discoveries throughout the world. Joslin is an independent, non-profit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and one of only 16 NIH-designated Diabetes Research Centers in the U.S. For more information, visit www.joslin.org.