MD Ally

MD Ally is a healthcare navigation company that adds a virtual response tier to 911 and emergency medical services. Its platform lets 911 dispatchers and field responders connect callers assessed as low-acuity or non-emergent to licensed clinicians by phone or video, as well as to in-network healthcare resources, social services and transportation, instead of dispatching an ambulance or transporting the patient to an emergency department. Clinicians assess symptoms, recommend treatment, issue prescriptions to local pharmacies where appropriate, and can coordinate follow-up with primary care, urgent care or specialists.

The service covers non-emergency conditions such as colds, flu and COVID-19 symptoms, sinus and ear infections, rashes and mild allergic reactions, gastrointestinal and urinary complaints, minor injuries and pain, chronic condition support including hypertension, diabetes, asthma and COPD medication management, and mild behavioral health concerns; controlled substances are not prescribed and life-threatening conditions are excluded. MD Ally also supports community paramedicine programs, giving paramedics field access to remote clinicians and alternative care navigation.

Beyond the clinical connection, MD Ally handles program design and operations for its partners: setting goals, technical workflows and performance measures, launching the telehealth pathway, providing live encounter monitoring and standby support, and supplying automated reporting on key metrics. The company operates an operations center offering 24/7 assistance and a partner-facing portal, AllyNet, covering triage, telemedicine, appointments, transportation and analytics.

Founding story

Founder and CEO Shanel Fields began working on MD Ally in 2020 after graduating from the Wharton School. She was influenced by her father's work as a volunteer EMT and by research from Wharton professor Guy David, her mentor, on overutilization of the 911 system in low-income communities with higher death rates. Fields previously worked in healthcare technology at the electronic health record company Athenahealth.

Business model

MD Ally sells into public safety agencies and health insurance payers rather than to consumers; individuals cannot open accounts directly. It contracts with local governments, 911 dispatch centers and EMS agencies to embed a telehealth response tier, and separately contracts with payers and healthcare networks in those geographies to make the service available to members and to reimburse care delivered.

The company partners with local governments and then engages provider payors in the area, including insurance companies, which pay for the services MD Ally provides and reimburse care delivered to their members.

Traction

By 2024 the company reported partnerships with major US cities including Phoenix, Arizona, a county-level program with Lee County, Florida, and national payer partnerships being implemented in Arizona, Florida and California with potential reach of more than five million patients. Its virtual care program is reported to save an average of $2,280 in healthcare costs per call. Tracked measures include navigation of patients to appropriate care, reduction in unnecessary emergency department visits, patient satisfaction and successful connection to routine care providers.

Latest developments

The August 2024 Series A was followed by a November 2024 Forbes profile of the company and founder Shanel Fields describing continued expansion with local governments and payors. Planned uses of capital include nationwide expansion, talent recruitment, expanded clinical services and additional care coordination partnerships.