4.2.1. The selected vendor will be expected to provide a comprehensive, scalable, and interoperable solution that delivers virtual cardiac rehabilitation, remote patient monitoring, and digital engagement tools across all UTMB outpatient cardiac care settings. Proposals should demonstrate the ability to support the following: • Cardiovascular patients across all UTMB facilities, including: o UTMB Galveston Hospital o UTMB League City Hospital o UTMB Clear Lake Hospital o UTMB Angleton Danbury Hospital o All UTMB outpatient clinics • Integration with UTMB’s Epic EHR and alignment with existing clinical workflows. • HIPAA-compliant patient onboarding, communication, education, and engagement tools, including support for multi-lingual and accessible formats. • Secure and interoperable data collection, storage, and sharing, with support for HL7, FHIR, and other industry standards. • Support for clinical documentation, billing, and credentialing workflows, especially when services are rendered by third-party providers. • Real-time alerting and care escalation protocols based on RPM or app-based patient-reported metrics. • Ongoing reporting on adherence, patient progress, clinical milestones, and outcome tracking. • Research endeavors with potential for joint publications and research reports 4.2.2. In addition to the above, the proposal must address the following enhanced service areas: 4.2.2.1. Virtual Cardiac Rehab Focus Deliver a virtual CR program specifically targeting patients in rehabilitation following qualifying cardiovascular events or procedures. The program should include exercise training, nutrition counseling, medication adherence support, psychosocial counseling, and lifestyle modification interventions, all delivered through telehealth or app-based platforms. 4.2.2.2. Research Collaboration and Data Sharing Proposals must outline a framework for de-identified data sharing and outcome reporting to support collaborative research and academic publication. Quarterly reporting on key metrics (e.g., engagement, outcomes, readmission rates, adherence to GDMT) is expected to support research, quality improvement, and operational insights. 4.2.2.3. Inclusion of Underserved Populations UTMB emphasizes the importance of equitable access to cardiac rehab across all payers’ mix, including for patients traditionally excluded from insurance reimbursement (e.g., those with HFpEF). Vendors should include strategies for identifying and engaging these populations, along with any proposed reimbursement or subsidization models. 4.2.2.4. Readmission Reduction and Accountability The vendor should include mechanisms to track and report hospital readmissions and propose interventions to reduce both 30-day and 90-day readmission rates. Proposals incorporating value-based care models or shared-risk reimbursement strategies (e.g., demonstrable reduction in readmission rates for CV patients enrolled in the virtual CR programs) are very highly encouraged. A major quality focus at UTMB is the appropriate reduction of readmissions among cardiovascular patients. Proposals that demonstrate a clear potential to impact this goal — including a robust plan to measure and track outcomes over time — will receive favorable consideration.
