Joslin Diabetes Center is teaming up with American Well to offer ‘telehealth’ services

By Chris Reidy, Globe Staff

American Well, a privately held Boston company that uses technology to bring health care services into the homes and workplaces of patients, said that it plans to collaborate with Joslin Diabetes Center to make Joslin’s diabetes expertise more accessible to patients nationwide.

As a technology provider, American Well has a focus on so-called “teleheath services,” which allows patients to have “virtual house calls” through one-on-one video conferences with doctors. Patients can also ask doctors questions either through texting or phone calls. Doctors can outline treatment options or even prescribe medication if needed.

Joslin Diabetes Center is a teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

In a statement, Joslin president and chief executive John L. Brooks III said, “Telehealth provides an opportunity to bring together our strengths in research, clinical care, education, and awareness in order to create an entirely new class of clinical program – then project care directly to the patients who need it most, at the appropriate time.”