Entrepreneurship in Telemedicine Part 2 with Dr. Luissa Kiprono

We are delighted to introduce Dr. Luissa Kiprono as our guest for today’s show. She is a physician leader, an entrepreneur, and the founder of two companies. She is also a motivational speaker and an author. 

Dr. Kiprono is an alumnus of the University of Tennessee's Pemba program, where she graduated in 2020. She is board-certified. She completed her residency and OB-GYN and then did a maternal-fetal medicine fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Centre. She founded World Gateway Perinatal Consultants in 2018 and her Tele Med MFM Venture in 2022. She explores self-help and motivation through her recently published book, Push Then Breathe: Trauma, Triumph, and the Making of an American Doctor. 

We are excited to dive into her work in telemedicine and explore how it influences her life and, more importantly, transforms the lives of her patients.

Evolution of Telemed MFM

Telemed MFM is a high-risk pregnancy care practice providing telemedicine solutions and maternal-fetal care access across geographical borders. Through virtual consultations, Dr. Kiprono addresses the current challenges in evaluation, assessment, and treatment delays, particularly in underserved rural areas. Her practice aims to bring high-risk medical care to expectant mothers, irrespective of where they are. Her commitment to consistency, discipline, and effective communication has contributed to her successful telemedicine practice.

Lessons Learned and Empowerment Message

Dr. Kiprono describes founding a telemedicine practice in her 50s as a simultaneously scary and exciting journey, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of her former practice. She chooses a patient-driven approach over corporate healthcare norms and always encourages her fellow physicians to follow their hearts and pursue their dreams.

Practicing Maternal Fetal Medicine Remotely

In the earlier days, maternal-fetal medicine physicians provided prenatal care to high-risk patients in their offices and delivered the babies after nine months. However, a shift has occurred over the last decade due to the limited number of maternal-fetal medicine specialists (only about 313 out of 100 physicians are practicing full-time and boarded). That has evolved toward a more consultative approach, where physicians like Dr. Kiprono engage in virtual consultations, examine scans, and provide care through encrypted telehealth systems.

Telemedicine MFM and Working with Hospital Systems

Telemed MFM provides high-risk pregnancy care through telemedicine solutions. It also integrates into healthcare and hospital systems, offering services equivalent to an on-site presence. Dr. Kiprono decided to start the integration process into hospital systems by maintaining a full-time partnership with just one hospital system while contemplating the future expansion of her venture. She is currently working full-time with St. Luke's Health System in Kansas City, Missouri.

Navigating Billing and Insurance in Telemedicine

Dr. Kiprono explains that there has been a shift toward more streamlined and niche insurance coverage, making it more accessible and affordable. The hospital manages the billing for surgical and patient services, simplifying the process. Credentialing with various insurance companies is facilitated through the hospital. That also covers Dr. Kiprono’s services. 

Expanding Telemedicine MFM and Future Plans

Dr. Kiprono’s future vision for Telemedicine MFM includes recruiting additional physicians who share her commitment to virtual maternal-fetal medicine. While acknowledging the steep learning curve of telehealth, Dr. Kiprono remains optimistic about finding individuals comfortable with providing excellent medical care through virtual means.

Pursuing an MBA in Physician Leadership

Pursuing an MBA aligned with Dr. Kiprono’s vision for physician leadership. After recognizing the need for physicians to participate actively in decision-making processes, she decided to enhance her business knowledge. Opting for a one-year, physician-focused MBA program, she found a perfect fit with the Physician Executive MBA (Pemba) at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Dr. Kiprono emphasizes the importance of being user-friendly, time-efficient, and specialized in her decision-making process.

Closing Thoughts on Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Dr. Kiprono encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to seek support, ask questions, and maintain a flexible approach. She stresses the importance of communication and adaptability, the ongoing transformation in healthcare, and the need to embrace change to improve patient care.

Links and resources:

Norm Chapin on LinkedIn

Dr. Luissa Kiprono on LinkedIn

Obtain your CME certificate

Special thanks for their support go to:

Kate Ashley, Executive Director of the Healthcare Division of Graduate and Executive Education at the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee 

Dr. Don Leiter, a professor at the University of Tennessee and Director of the Institute for Healthcare Quality Research and Education 

Tom Brown 

Shiraz, Sriman

Christy Napper