In this episode, Andréa Caballero of Catalyst for Payment Reform sits down with Dr. Jason Chirichigno—internal medicine physician, digital-care pioneer, and founding clinical leader at Galileo—to unpack what truly differentiates digital medicine from traditional telemedicine, why employers are urgently seeking new care models, and how high-quality, longitudinal primary care can be delivered virtually without sacrificing relationships, access, or outcomes.
Dr. Jason shares rare visibility into how Galileo practices “Kaiser meets Mayo in the cloud,” caring for patients in all 50 states across commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, and employer-sponsored coverage—delivering not just acute care, but chronic and complex care traditionally assumed to require in-person visits.
Key Insights
Digital Medicine vs. Telemedicine: Not the Same Thing
Telemedicine often treats one-off acute needs. Digital medicine, as Galileo practices it, builds continuous relationships, manages long-term conditions, and integrates primary care and specialty expertise directly into the care experience—all virtually. For Dr. Jason, 90% of medicine is the patient’s story, which means 90% of care can be delivered digitally when done right.
Why Employers Are Paying Attention
With employers facing 13–15% annual premium increases, digital-first solutions aren’t a luxury—they’re a necessity. Self-funded employers in particular are turning to digital primary care to:
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Improve employee access without increasing costs
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Reduce ER utilization and unnecessary in-person visits
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Bend the total cost of care curve through prevention and better chronic condition management
A New Model for Integrated Specialty Support
One of Galileo’s biggest differentiators: Primary care clinicians can consult in-house specialists in real time, without requiring patients to wait weeks—or months—for appointments. Dr. Jason can present a case to an infectious disease specialist during the same encounter. Instead of seven days of antibiotics, a patient may need only three based on new evidence—saving time, reducing side effects, and improving adherence. Small improvements like this, repeated at scale, drive meaningful cost and quality gains.
Supporting Provider Sustainability
Digital, team-based care isn’t just better for patients—it may help reduce burnout. With collaborative staffing models and asynchronous workflows, clinicians can maintain quality while preserving work-life balance. Dr. Jason notes that this is a major culture shift even for him—one that unlocks sustainable 24/7 access without overburdening individual physicians.
A Practical Role for Employers
Employers evaluating digital primary care should look for partners who:
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Customize solutions to workforce needs
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Demonstrate quality through experienced clinicians and integrated specialist support
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Commit to population health and longitudinal outcomes
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Offer predictable, value-based pricing
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Improve access without compromising existing provider relationships
As Dr. Jason puts it, employers must think 1–3 years ahead if they want to counteract rising healthcare costs and maintain a healthy workforce.