Ascension’s work in clinical transformation is changing the way patients access care with technology and simple behavioral innovations. At the helm, Mitesh Patel, MD, MBA, Ascension’s Chief Clinical Transformation Officer, champions this ongoing work with a recent article published in Health Progress, the journal of the Catholic Health Association.
In the article, “Access Begins With a Connection: How Simple Innovations Transform Care and Reach the Vulnerable,” Dr. Patel describes how health systems can remove barriers to care by integrating virtual services, strengthening specialty access and using behavioral science to help patients engage in preventive care.
The article highlights three initiatives designed to remove barriers to care and strengthen preventive health. Ascension’s Connected Primary Care model embeds a virtual advanced practice provider within existing primary care practices, allowing patients to access same-day care while staying connected to their care team. A systemwide teleneurology program connects rural and critical-access hospitals with board-certified neurologists for rapid consultation during neurological emergencies. Ascension is also using digital “nudges,” personalized text reminders that encourage patients to complete screenings and vaccinations, helping care teams close preventive care gaps and improve engagement.
“Across the country, the people who need care most are often the ones who struggle to access it,” Dr. Patel writes. “If the aim is to improve the health of our communities and the people who are poor and vulnerable, we must commit to our mission to ensure no one is left behind.”
Together, these innovations reflect Ascension’s broader strategy to expand access to timely, coordinated care while advancing its mission to serve all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable.
Read the full article: https://www.chausa.org/news-and-publications/publications/health-progress/archives/spring-2026/access-begins-with-a-connection--how-simple-innovations-transform-care-and-reach-the-vulnerable
