23-05-2025
Human Rx: Empathetic Guidance Remakes Healthcare Outcomes
Beyond the buzz of technological innovation, a significant shift is gaining momentum in healthcare: the recognition of human connection as a core driver of positive outcomes. Increasingly, personalized advocacy and care coordination are demonstrating that informed, empathetic support in navigating complex medical journeys is crucial for achieving better patient results. This trend highlights the enduring importance of the human element in an evolving healthcare landscape.
MedCompanion is one company demonstrating that truly impactful healthcare isn't just about cutting-edge devices or complex algorithms but about something fundamentally human: better their personalized patient advocacy and care coordination services, they are proving that navigating the complexities of modern medicine with informed, empathetic support leads to demonstrably better outcomes for patients.
TURNING TRAGEDY INTO INNOVATION
Marly Brodsky recognized a crucial gap in healthcare. While technology has advanced, communication ... More between patients and providers has suffered. Her company MedCompanion is proving that better outcomes start with better conversations.
Marly Brodsky dreamed of helping people. Born in Panama, she moved to the US with her family when she was just 10 months old to seek medical care for her dad after he was injured in a fishing accident. Life in the U.S. wasn't easy for her family, who became homeless for a few months when Brodsky was 12. But she knew how life-changing access to healthcare can be, and that stayed with her.
She wanted to be a doctor. She went to college and completed all the pre-med requirements. As part of her studies, she went to live with the Nobe-Buglé tribe in the jungle of Panama for two months, researching how cultural practices impacted access to healthcare, tuberculosis treatment, and prevention.
But tragedy struck.
Brodsky was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 18. Her grades plummeted, and medical school became out of reach. She learned firsthand how hard it is for Americans to navigate a crumbling healthcare system with a challenging diagnosis that requires intensive treatments.
After beating the tumor, Brodsky became a traveling medical scribe. She implemented medical scribe programs in outpatient settings across the US, Canada, and Australia, strategizing how to provide better care and better insurance reimbursement.
While technology plays an integral role, MedCompanion relies on human interpretation to get results ... More for patients. A live medical professional virtually attends every appointment along with the patient – advocating, taking notes, and asking critical questions. After the medical appointment, the Medcompanion team periodically checks in with the patient to make sure they understand the doctors' instructions, medications, and follow-up care, even arranging follow-up appointments.
Fifteen years later, she burnt out. Her daughter, just a toddler at the time, was diagnosed with serious health issues, so Brodsky left the company. Then, her grandmother died unexpectedly a few months after being diagnosed with cancer, and Brodsky was once again personally reminded of how broken the system is. Struggling to keep track of her daughters' appointments and medications, she was filled with desperation, anger, and grief.
One night in 2021, Brodsky woke up in the middle of the night. She knew that many people needed more support, not just her family. But there was no service that provided patient support, advocacy, and education – so she decided to build it herself.
Dr. Rich Brodsky is the Chief Medical Officer of MedCompanion
She began to write out her entire business plan on the back of an electricity bill that very night. Her husband Dr. Rich Brodsky, a board-certified pediatric emergency doctor, soon became her #1 supporter and investor. He's now the Chief Medical Officer of MedCompanion. And Brodsky is the CEO.
Together with a small, mostly-female staff, they work directly with over 100 patients in 12 different states, helping to make sense of their medical appointments, insurance requirements, and treatment plans. A live medical professional virtually attends every appointment along with the patient – advocating, taking notes, and asking critical questions. After the medical appointment, the Medcompanion team periodically checks in with the patient to make sure they understand the doctors' instructions, medications, and follow-up care, even arranging follow-up appointments.
Brodsky recognized a crucial gap in healthcare. While technology has advanced, communication between patients and providers has suffered. Her company is proving that better outcomes start with better conversations.
A CRISIS IN CARE
There is a growing need to increase engagement between healthcare providers and patients, without increasing burn out. But demand is outpacing supply. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 60% of Americans have at least one chronic disease.
'Doctors are getting reimbursed less and less every year and then must see more and more patients. ... More It is not a good situation for either the patient or the doctor,' said Dr. Peter Wishnie
'Imagine being sick and then having to decipher all this medical terminology that sounds like another language entirely. Then there's all the red tape – needing referrals, waiting for authorizations, fighting surprise bills, and feeling rushed during their appointments,' shares podiatrist and business coach Dr. Peter Wishnie.
'Many patients and families came to the emergency room as a last resort because their care was so fractured,' adds Brodsky's husband, an emergency pediatrician and current Chief Medical Officer of MedCompanion. Dr. Richard Brodsky shares 'I have witnessed so many patients fall through the gaps in healthcare. Marly and I created MedCompanion to help close those gaps so that patient care can be more efficient and effective."
"The system is so frustrating that many people are simply choosing to avoid it altogether,' comments ... More Derek Berkey of Invigor Medical, a company specializing in outcome-focused treatments for a few common health conditions.
Patients wait months for appointments, only to spend a few minutes with a doctor and not understand what they are told. "The system is so frustrating that many people are simply choosing to avoid it altogether,' comments Derek Berkey of Invigor Medical, a company specializing in outcome-focused treatments for a few common health conditions.
THE ROLE OF INSURANCE COMPANIES
Insurance company practices are one of the main culprits of the broken system. They frequently lack transparency, and navigating whether treatment is covered leaves patients feeling alienated and distrustful.
'Doctors are getting reimbursed less and less every year and then must see more and more patients. It is not a good situation for either the patient or the doctor,' added Dr. Wishnie.
Doctors are asked to do more with less, creating an electronic medical record, and filling in the gaps in care where patients aren't getting support from their insurance. This includes navigating missing lab work, and a lack of access to specialists and medication.
'Instead of fighting with insurance or waiting months for an appointment, patients are turning to self-education, digital health platforms, and alternative providers,' says Berkey. A WIN-WIN SOLUTION
"Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recognize the importance of helping patients stay ... More on top of their prescriptions, follow-up appointments, and education regarding their illnesses,' says Dr. Blake Hampton, a specialist working with MedCompanion.
MedCompanion is now partnering with three health systems to leverage Medicare reimbursement for their services. 'Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recognize the importance of helping patients stay on top of their prescriptions, follow-up appointments, and education regarding their illnesses,' says Dr. Blake Hampton, a specialist working with MedCompanion. 'It's a win for everyone, as patients have better support and outcomes, practices can unlock additional revenue, and the taxpayer saves dollars that would otherwise be spent on preventable disease states.'
While technology plays an integral role, MedCompanion relies on human interpretation to get results for patients. A recent client was suffering from a chronic gastrointestinal illness, unable to work due to severe symptoms, and not getting better. Their assigned MedCompanion collected all of their medical records and lab results, set up a new priority appointment with a specialist whose experience aligned with the patients' symptoms, and gave clinical notes to the specialist during the appointment. Now the patient is back to work, with a significant relief of symptoms.
Another recent client had diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. They were taking multiple medications prescribed by multiple providers, missing doses, and unable to refill prescriptions before they ran out due to delays in insurance approvals. Thanks to their Medcompanion, they now not only are able to better control their illness through a streamlined medication regimen, they also are on a meal plan paid for by insurance.
PATIENT CARE OF THE FUTURE
Based on current demand, MedCompanion is projected to grow significantly in the coming years. Seeing the potential, investors have approached them about scaling the business.
'I believe we're just starting to see how technology will transform patient care, and it will only get better from here. The future of healthcare belongs to those who recognize this shift and make care simpler, faster, and more transparent," shares Berkey.
Ultimately, the path forward in healthcare will be paved by those who prioritize not just innovation but genuine human understanding and support.
