Partnering with the Patient, Interview with Valinda Rutledge, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, UpStream

Valinda Rutledge, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at UpStream, is passionate about helping patients, and empowering them to take charge of their health. 

 

She has a clinical background, and told us UpStream’s patient-focus is what drew her to the company. Valinda said a first-step of care in UpStream’s system is to meet face-to-face with patients to discuss their mediations. 

 

UpStream works with primary care physicians providing value-based care to those who are older and who have chronic conditions, and embeds pharmacists into the PCP’s practice. 

 

Valinda said their patients may have 10-12 medications due to comorbidities. Helping the patients understand the medications they’re prescribed is invaluable. It helps build a relationship with the patient, gives the patient the opportunity to talk about side effects they may be having, share troubles paying for the medication, and UpStream can even help synch the RX schedule so the patient isn’t going to the pharmacy constantly. 

 

This interview was fascinating, and we were inspired by Valinda’s unrelenting dedication to partnering with patients. 

 

Connect with Valinda: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valinda-rutledge-69167614/

 

Learn more about UpStream: https://www.upstream.care  

 

Topical timecodes:

 

1:37 - The UpStream Difference

3:22 - Meeting face-to-face to talk about medications

5:39 - Learnings from patients 

10:29 - Patient success stories 

11:56 - Looking forward to potential future downstream health impacts

15:24 - Pharmacists at scale

17:43 - Passion for her work

 

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Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the Making Healthcare Work for You mission.

 

Informed Consulting works with insurance carriers, digital health companies, insurtech organizations, and venture capital firms to drive distribution solutions in the employee benefits ecosystem.

They help companies reach revenue potential, confidently navigate a complex ecosystem, and position benefit ecosystem innovations for more efficient growth.

 

Visit https://www.informed.llc to learn more.

 

UpStream is the fastest-growing primary healthcare solution provider in the US. 

 

UpStream underwrites and supports the delivery of value-based care for older patients and people living with chronic conditions. By working in partnership with healthcare practices and clinics UpStream offers a comprehensive risk-free solution for physicians that finances, delivers and sustains better outcomes for everyone.

Visit https://www.upstream.care  to learn more.