The COVID-19 pandemic came with some particular challenges for Vivent Health president and chief executive officer Mike Gifford. Vivent’s HIV Medical Home model is based on delivering holistic care that addresses clients’ medical, emotional and social needs, but pandemic restrictions meant Gifford’s team needed to switch from a hands-on, high-touch model of care to a remote operation without restricting patient access to services or sacrificing quality of care.
Limiting elective services in the short term was not an option; all services provided via the HIV Medical Home are considered essential, according to Bill Keeton, Vivent’s vice president and chief advocacy officer.
Gifford’s team transitioned to “radical response mode” and reopened in a new virtual and home-delivery model of care, Keeton said.
“Critical to the success of this transition was Mike’s frequent, clear and actionable communication with all internal and external stakeholders,” he said.
Vivent continued to deliver services during the pandemic, caring for nearly 11,000 patients. It also completed seven M&A deals, diversified its board and cemented its financial strength, Keeton added.
