Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) serve some of the most complex and high-risk patient populations. Many participants are managing multiple chronic conditions, with cardiovascular disease being one of the most common and expensive to manage. However, scheduling an in-person visit with a cardiologist is downright difficult. It can take upwards of 45 days to see one and, if you live in a rural area, the prospect of getting yourself there can be a challenge for many.

Delivering consistent cardiology care in this setting can be difficult using traditional models alone.

Virtual-first cardiology offers a more effective way to manage cardiovascular risk in PACE populations.

The challenge of managing cardiovascular disease in PACE

PACE participants often require frequent monitoring, medication adjustments, and coordination across multiple providers. When care depends primarily on in-person visits, it can cause delays and gaps in care.

These gaps can lead to worsening conditions, avoidable hospitalizations, and higher overall costs.

Improving outcomes and enabling continuous cardiovascular care

At Heartbeat Health, we provide an opportunity for a primary care provider in a PACE facility to easily refer a patient directly to a Heartbeat virtual cardiologist. The participant can set up a virtual visit instantly or on another day that they will be back in the PACE facility, or even at home if they choose. This simplified workflow eliminates scheduling headaches, transportation coordination burdens and the visit itself is lower cost than an in person visit. Not to mention, this simplifies the experience and lowers stress barriers reduction for the participant as well.

For PACE programs, reducing unnecessary hospitalizations is a key priority.

Through remote monitoring and regular virtual check-ins, clinicians can identify changes earlier and adjust treatment plans more quickly. This helps stabilize patients and reduces the likelihood of escalation.

Aligning with value-based care goals

PACE programs operate within a value-based framework where outcomes and cost management are closely linked. The time is now to untangle the logistics, scheduling burden and cost for specialty care for PACE plans – and deliver better clinical outcomes for PACE participants at scale.

Heartbeat’s virtual-first cardiology practice aligns with these goals by supporting longitudinal care and scaling across patient populations. As telehealth programs continue to evolve, integrating virtual-first cardiology can strengthen providers’ ability to deliver coordinated, high-quality care.

Back to PulsePoint Blog

Follow us for more perspectives and PulsePoint content from Heartbeat experts!