A division of UPMC is helping to co-create a new company that aims to make life better for those suffering from chronic pain.
UPMC Enterprises and Redesign Health are creating Glimmer Health.
The new company will focus on training primary care physicians and nurse practitioners and social workers in treating patients who suffer from chronic pain.
It will allow patients to work with those nurses or social workers through telemedicine, for things like prescription refills and offering pain management protocols that don't rely as much on opioids.
This frees up doctors to focus on direct patient care.
One in four Americans suffers from chronic pain.
“Primary care physicians are overburdened and under-resourced, making it incredibly difficult to manage the complex and nuanced care needed to treat patients with chronic pain,” said Alissa Meade, founder and CEO of Glimmer Health. “Glimmer Health removes the management burden, allowing primary care physicians to focus on partnering directly with their patients to secure enduring pain relief and achieve their health goals.”