This case study outlines how Dell Children’s Hospital leveraged the Vector Health platform to overcome a critical treatment barrier. A 13-year-old patient, facing life-threatening heart complications due to excessive fat around her heart, required a course of GLP1 drugs to prepare safely for surgery. Despite her obesity, she did not qualify for standard GLP1 drug coverage because she lacked a diabetes or pre-diabetes diagnosis. With her family unable to afford the out-of-pocket cost, her cardiologist turned to Vector Health’s innovative technology. Within minutes, the platform matched the patient with a program providing affordable access to GLP1 medications, ultimately enabling the patient to proceed with life-saving surgery.
Challenge
Medical Complexity: The patient’s excess fat around her heart increased surgical risks, necessitating a weight-management intervention before the operation.
Eligibility and Affordability Barriers: GLP1 drugs are conventionally prescribed for individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes. In this case, the patient’s condition did not meet those criteria. Without insurance coverage for GLP1 treatment, the family was faced with prohibitive out-of-pocket costs.
Time Sensitivity: Delays in treatment posed significant risks, emphasizing the urgent need for an accessible, alternative solution.
The Vector Health Platform Solution
Technology-Enabled Matching: The hospital accessed the Vector Health platform to explore opportunities for patient assistance. The platform’s advanced algorithms quickly analyzed available programs and matched the patient with an initiative offering affordable GLP1 drugs
Rapid Matching and Program Diversity: Within minutes, the system identified a suitable program tailored to the patient’s unique needs. By aggregating various assistance programs and pricing models, the platform could pinpoint opportunities that traditional eligibility criteria often overlook.
Outcomes and Impact
Clinical Impact: With the affordable access to GLP1 drugs, the patient began her treatment, reducing cardiac fat and enabling a safer surgical intervention.
Financial and Social Impact: The family, previously unable to bear the cost of the medication, gained access to an affordable treatment option.
Broader Implications: The case underscores how innovative health tech solutions can bridge critical gaps in patient care, particularly for vulnerable populations.
The Vector Health platform played a crucial role in transforming a seemingly insurmountable barrier into an actionable solution. By quickly matching a high-risk pediatric patient with an affordable GLP1 drug program, Dell Children’s Hospital was able to reduce surgical risk and proceed with a life-saving heart surgery. This case not only highlights the impact of innovative technology on patient care but also sets a precedent for future interventions where clinical needs intersect with financial and eligibility challenges.
About Vector Health
Vector Health is dedicated to leveraging technology to ensure that every patient has access to the treatments they need. By connecting healthcare providers with a wide array of assistance programs, Vector Health facilitates timely, cost-effective care solutions that drive better clinical outcomes and transform lives.
For more information or to schedule a demonstration of the Vector Health platform, please contact sales@vectorhealth.ai
This white paper serves as a comprehensive overview of how strategic use of technology can bridge critical gaps in patient care, especially when conventional pathways fall short.