Virtua Launches State's First Mobile Integrated Health Program

A new program sends Virtua paramedics and EMTs to provide a range of non-emergency care in people's homes, and coordinates care with a person's doctors and care teams. The model, known as Mobile Integrated Health (MIH), supports earlier intervention, reduces avoidable hospital admissions and emergency department visits, and improves overall health outcomes. 

Virtua's MIH program is the first to be licensed in New Jersey.

"Mobile Integrated Health is transformational," said Virtua President and CEO Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE. "It will fill critical gaps in care, leading to better health, fewer hospital visits, and a healthier population with a better quality of life across our region."

Virtua worked with the N.J. Department of Health to develop comprehensive regulations that allow MIH programs statewide.

The new service is supported by approximately 35 care providers, including 12 full-time staff. Virtua will increase the program's staffing and fleet of five dedicated vehicles as needed to sustain around-the-clock coverage.

"Mobile Integrated Health is designed to address unmet medical, behavioral, and social needs across the care continuum, particularly for patients who experience challenging transitions or limited access to timely follow-up," explained James Newman, vice president of patient logistics.

MIH is Virtua's latest advance, bringing high-quality care directly into people's homes. "Each of these programs increases access to care, especially for those who are most vulnerable," Pullin added.

Learn more about the program and read in BINJE.

In the Headlines

Virtua Hospital Earns Highest Level Stroke Certification
Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital has received certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC)—the highest available level—from The Joint Commission, a prestigious international organization.

"It's the most demanding stroke certification, recognizing hospitals that have specific abilities to treat the most complex stroke cases," said Lisa Ferraro, senior vice president of Virtua Health and president of Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes.

"It means we meet the highest standards for stroke care, across each point along the continuum of care, and it reflects our commitment to safe, high-quality care for every patient," Ferraro explained.

CSC certification includes the ability to perform thrombectomies to remove blood clots from the brain. Such ischemic strokes account for 87% of all strokes. The Joint Commission also requires CSC-certified hospitals to provide quality treatment for aneurysms, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhages, and intracerebral hemorrhages.

"At Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes, the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health neurovascular team uses state-of-the-art techniques to treat stroke and minimize long-lasting damage," said Dr. Melissa Bailey, medical director of the hospital's stroke program and a Penn Medicine neurologist. Read more about this important recognition in New Jersey Business Magazine.

Oliver Station Wins Statewide Award for Design & Construction
NJ Biz magazine has named Oliver Station a "Top Project" on its list of 2026 Leaders in Real Estate, Construction and Design.

Developed through a partnership between Virtua and The Michaels Organization, this innovative affordable-housing community features a Virtua primary care office, which serves adults from across South Jersey.

Oliver Station is designed to advance health equity and address housing insecurity in the under-resourced city of Camden. The community has already received other awards since opening last summer, including the Governor's Excellence in Housing Award and the New Jersey Future's Smart Growth Award. Learn more about the NJ Biz award.

Philly Magazine Names 100+ Virtua Clinicians to 'Top Docs' List
More than 100 Virtua and Virtua-affiliated physicians appear on the 2026 Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors list. A spot on this list signifies trust and standing in the region, in part because the individuals recognized are nominated by their peers.

Virtua Improves Care, Outcomes By Using Copilot AI 
Microsoft has published a case study on how Virtua is enhancing patient outcomes, empowering staff, and increasing efficiency by using the Copilot AI platform.

As a result, sepsis identification has improved by 80%, heart failure detection and treatment rates have risen, and average patient stays have dropped by one day, according to Microsoft's report.

"Using the Microsoft technology and this early prediction model, we can find sepsis earlier, treat patients earlier, and prevent avoidable negative outcomes," said Dr. Emilio Mazza, medical/surgical ICU director at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

"It's really a great time to be in medicine when we have all these additional resources with AI, informatics, and predictive models," said Dr. Tolulope Agunbiade, medical director of Virtua's Advanced Heart Failure Program. "I love the fact that Virtua is so collaborative, with all the multidisciplinary teams, and that we can come together to really focus on how we can best deliver care to our patients. It's really changing the way we deliver care on a daily basis."

Newsweek Highlights Success of 'Healthy Neighbor' Program
The CEOs of Virtua and Medtronic discussed their innovative partnership that's improving people's health and lives in Camden. Virtua's Dennis W. Pullin and Medtronic's Geoff Martha shared how "Healthy Neighbor" combines AI-enabled monitoring technology with home visits by community health workers.

Since the program's 2023 launch, the majority of participants have significantly reduced their hypertension and A1c levels, among other benefits. "The technology helps track and guide care, but it's the human presence, the trust built in living rooms and kitchens, that ensures patients stay engaged..." Newsweek reported.

"Sometimes it's not just about the health or medicine part of it," said Pullin. "We're helping to connect them with other resources to pay rent, access transportation and housing. We're helping to bridge that gap between suitable housing or gainful employment and their health status, and that what's making this [program] very different."

TV Reporter Thanks Virtua Team
Action News journalist Sharifa Jackson recently welcomed home her daughter, Arya, after an eight-month NICU stay at a CHOP campus in Pennsylvania. "Sharifa said there are too many doctors and nurses to thank, from Virtua to CHOP and King of Prussia," 6 ABC reported. 

Mom Reflects on Journey from NICU to TEDx Stage
In a heartfelt essay, Chekesha Ellis recalled the premature birth of her now teenage son, Hyuston, who weighed less than 2 pounds at delivery. She discussed the care they received at Virtua Mount Holly and Virtua Voorhees hospitals, including a NICU stay.

Ellis faced further challenges after becoming deaf around that time. "The team at Virtua created a system where doctors spoke into a microphone and their words appeared on a computer screen so I could read them." In 2023, she shared her family's inspiring journey in a TEDx presentation. Read by subscription in The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

Rowan-Virtua Medical School Recognized for National Research Leadership
Colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) are rapidly expanding the amount of research they conduct, according to a new report.

The "first-of-its-kind analysis showcases how COMs are advancing community-centered, clinically relevant health research in alignment with national priorities," according to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, which conducted the study. 

Among its key insights, the report cites the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM) for having the second-largest share (18.5%) of funded research projects at U.S. COMs. It also ranks the Rowan-Virtua SOM among the top five parent institutions by research application volume. Read at AACOM.org.

Explore Our Collective Impact in Virtua's Annual Giving Report
We are pleased to share Virtua Health's latest Impact of Giving Report, which highlights the incredible impact our generous donors have on our patients and community.

In 2025, more than 2,100 donors invested a remarkable $13 million to support Virtua's programs and services. Thanks to their support, we celebrated several meaningful milestones-from transforming care at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to expanding our community health programs, advancing clinical services through research and innovation, and shaping the health care workforce of the future. 

Together through philanthropy, we are creating lasting impact by strengthening the health and well-being of our South Jersey community. 

Learn More

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