Catholic Medical Center (CMC) partnered with the LT Telehealth team at LocumTenens.com to rapidly stand up a full-time inpatient infectious disease (ID) telehealth program in response to an urgent coverage gap — launching in just nine weeks without disruptions to patient care.
The situation:
CMC experienced the loss of onsite inpatient ID coverage while simultaneously navigating an acquisition, creating significant operational and patient-care risk if coverage was not restored immediately.
The challenge:
• Impeding loss of inpatient infectious disease coverage
• Risk of patient transfers due to specialty access gaps
• Licensing, credentialing and enrollment timelines under extreme pressure
• Implementation during an active health system acquisition
• Need for sustainable, full-time weekday coverage — not short-term patchwork
"Infectious disease coverage isn't a service line you can pause while you figure things out. When CMC came to us, the clock was already running. Nine weeks later, they had a panel of five ID physicians, consistent daily coverage, and zero patient transfers due to a coverage gap. That's what telehealth done well looks like."
- Jamie Threatt, telehealth program director
The solution:
CMC and LocumTenens.com executed a focused nine-week sprint to design, launch and operationalize a dedicated inpatient ID telehealth service. A five-physician MD panel was built to provide Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. coverage, with workflows aligned to existing hospital operations. Close coordination across licensing, credentialing, IT and clinical leadership ensured a seamless transition from onsite to virtual care without interruption.
Results:
Strong partnerships go beyond filling shifts; they focus on building resilient care teams. By aligning on shared goals and maintaining open communication, we supported CMC in delivering exceptional care:
• 0 patient transfers due to infectious disease coverage gaps.
• 5-MD telehealth ID panel supporting full-time weekday coverage.
• Consistent daily consult volume averaging 7–12 patients per day.
• Sustained utilization across six months, including peak volume of 266 consults in December (12 consults/day average).
• Continuous inpatient ID coverage maintained throughout acquisition period.
"When CMC came to us, the clock was already running. What made this work was that their clinical and operational leadership were true partners from day one. Together we launched a five-physician ID panel without a single patient transfer due to a coverage gap. That's what a real partnership produces."
- Jamie Threatt, telehealth program director
Looking ahead:
With a stable, high-performing telehealth ID program, CMC is well-positioned to sustain specialty coverage and adapt to future workforce challenges. The success of the partnership establishes a scalable model for expanding telehealth services, building a strong foundation for long-term operational and clinical resilience.