Solving fragmented care for cardiometabolic health with Dr. Cynthia Horner

Following our recent webinar with Amwell, Dr. Cynthia Horner, chief medical officer for Amwell, explored the issues plaguing the healthcare industry when it comes to cardiometabolic health and whole-person care.

Read on to gain insights from Dr. Horner and learn how our approach with Amwell – sustainable, whole-person interventions including lifestyle changes, medication management, and behavioral healthcare – can lead to real, lasting results.

Facing the challenges

Over the last 15 years, the US has seen significant increases in the numbers of people experiencing cardiometabolic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Unfortunately, we’re also seeing the cost of managing these conditions rise. At the same time, many health plans are relying on multiple care programs and point solutions to address these issues. 

What does this all boil down to? Members are often left feeling like they’re on their own while care teams struggle to work efficiently and drive outcomes.

There’s a lot of talk about GLP-1 medications. They’ve been effective in helping with overall weight loss and blood sugar control. However, this is only one part of the solution. There’s more we could be doing to help support patients that can both reduce costs and help maintain weight loss after they come off the medication. And it doesn’t rely on clinicians simply working harder and doing more.

What’s needed is a better approach, one that’s both clinically sound and simple to use. With Amwell and Vida working together, health plans can offer a program that brings cardiometabolic and primary care solutions together in one place, on a platform that supports the full picture of a member’s health.

A better way forward

In our recent webinar, we explored how the Amwell Cardiometabolic Program Powered by Vida can make caring for members simpler and more effective. With this program, members can access cardiometabolic health support involving digital guidance, nutrition, therapy, coaching, and monitoring, while also finding support from other digital care solutions available on the Amwell platform. And it makes a difference in disease prevention and wellness — they’ve seen 197% of members with prediabetes not progressing to diabetes over the course of one year. That’s the power of whole-person care.

This approach isn’t just effective; it’s easy to use. Members connect to care in a way that feels seamless, not stressful, delivering cost-effective cardiometabolic care that aligns with both clinical and financial goals for health plans. With the focus on helping both mind and body, we’re ensuring that people can make meaningful, lasting changes to their health.

And we’re already seeing the impact. When it comes to obesity care, the program has an 80% member retention rate after six months, showing that members are staying engaged with the tools and support they receive.

See how it can work for you here! 

Beyond medication

The Cardiometabolic Program doesn’t rely on a one-size-fits-all approach to care, especially when it comes to medications. Instead, it follows an evidence-based model that helps people find care tailored to their needs.

This approach starts with lifestyle support, helping members build healthy habits through nutrition, exercise, and management of stress, anxiety, and depression. If medication is necessary, generics are used when possible, which keeps costs down. GLP-1s are introduced only when truly needed and are combined with personalized coaching and lifestyle changes, offering health plans viable, cost-effective and often more sustainable alternatives to GLP-1 medications.

Using this method, only 15% of members end up on GLP-1s, helping plans avoid prescription costs of $425 per member per month. . Most importantly, members get the right care and support for their unique situation.

Because the Cardiometabolic Program is delivered on the Amwell platform, the referring Amwell Medical Group provider and care team are informed of the member’s treatments, prescribed medications and dosages, and progress. Connected data reduces duplicative care and testing and improves care coordination and member experiences. 

Results that transform lives

When it comes down to it, what makes the Cardiometabolic Program’s whole-person care approach stand out is the real-world impact.  We’re seeing measurable improvements by addressing members’ physical and mental health together.

Here are a few of the results so far:

  • Average reduction of 1.4 A1C over six months
  • 61% improvement in depression and 55% improvement in anxiety over six months
  • Improved blood pressure, with 83% of members with stage 2 high blood pressure or those in hypertension crisis hitting healthy targets within one year – demonstrating the benefits of a high blood pressure holistic treatment approach that integrates lifestyle, behavioral, and medical support

This is what’s possible when obesity care focuses on the whole person, not just one symptom or condition. By combining healthy lifestyle changes and behavioral health support with medication use where appropriate, we’re paving the way for better member outcomes and lasting change.

A healthier future

Offering care that addresses both mind and body isn’t just better for people; it’s better for health plans, too. This integrated program can deliver:

The time has come to rethink how we treat conditions like diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure, and to adopt more integrated, sustainable strategies for improving cardiometabolic health. Instead of relying on fragmented solutions and temporary fixes, we can now use integrated programs that provide lasting support and impact.

Amwell’s technology-enabled care platform streamlines vendor management and supports whole-person health. By integrating Vida’s evidence-based cardiometabolic program into the mix, health plans can deliver best-in-class care and improve clinical outcomes – all within a single, comprehensive healthcare environment.

Powering your success

Want to learn more? Explore how this clinically proven partnership program can make a difference for your members. Or connect with us to see how you can bring whole-person care to your health plan.

  1. Vida book of business 2025 ↩︎