New hub services provider opens its doors

Outsourced patient support services—aka hub programs—are a specialized area of business, but one that is both growing dramatically, and getting more crowded with providers. The latest entry is Diligent Health Solutions, based in Trevose, PA.

Although small at the outset, the company boasts some top-level management: Mary Anne Greenberg, CEO, was former president, North America, of Ashfield, a global commercial-services firm, and Ron Abel, CFO, was president of WRB Communications, another commercial services firm that was acquired by Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy in 2017. Both have prior experience in healthcare communications and services.

Based on how specialty pharmaceuticals and patient support are evolving, “There’s never been a better time to provide the industry with the right people and the latest technology to best serve their needs and those of the people they serve---patients, caretakers, and health care professionals,” says Greenberg. Drawing on her market research leading up to the launch, she says that the pharma industry is experiencing significant dissatisfaction with the current level of quality. “Clients shift from one service provider to another, but find that the new provider is not much better than the one left behind” in terms of maintaining patient relationships and getting patients onboarded. Diligent Health already has some clients in the rare disease space, and will be working with clients both on complete patient-service programs, and hybrid programs blending outsourced and insourced services.