Virtua Health, the largest health system in southern New Jersey, and Unite Us, a nationally recognized technology partner for social care transformation, have formed a strategic partnership to improve care coordination by connecting patients to vital community support services.

As part of its commitment to health equity, Virtua Health will integrate the Unite Us platform within Epic, empowering clinicians and social workers to quickly and simply connect patients to internal and third-party programs and services. Examples include food and nutrition aid, housing support, mental and behavioral health counseling, and financial assistance. The partnership ensures seamless tracking of referrals and outcomes, enabling the health system to develop personalized care plans with a broad view of quality-of-life concerns.

“We’re proud to partner with Virtua Health to elevate how coordinated care is delivered in southern New Jersey,” said Dan Brillman, co-founder and CEO of Unite Us. “This collaboration brings together two innovators with a shared commitment to improving health outcomes through proven technology and community-driven solutions. We’re excited to provide Virtua Health with the integrated workflows and insights needed to address patients’ needs effectively, ensuring access to vital resources that enhance health and well-being for all.”

When implemented, Virtua Health’s network of more than 3,000 providers across 400 care locations will use Unite Us to standardize the Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) referral process, aligning Virtua Health with other health systems and government agencies already achieving a 99.1% referral acceptance rate within the Unite New Jersey coordinated care network. (This standard means nearly all referrals are acted upon.) The partnership is intended to better serve patients and improve their well-being beyond the time spent in a hospital or medical practice.

“At Virtua Health, we recognize the various factors that shape a person’s health,” said John Matsinger, DO, MBA, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Virtua Health. “In addition to providing the best possible medical care, we demonstrate respect for our patients by connecting them to resources and services that can enhance their quality of life and position them for success.”

“We chose Unite Us as our technology partner because of their proven ability to connect patients with accountable community resources. This ensures we not only make referrals, but also track outcomes to ensure our patients receive the services they need,” said Debra Moran, MS, senior vice president of health equity and community programs at Virtua Health “The Unite Us platform empowers us to address health-related social needs effectively, reflecting our shared vision of creating healthier communities through innovation and collaboration.”

All non-profit community-based organizations can gain access to the Unite Us platform free of charge. To learn more, visit: uniteus.com/contact.